Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has directed all political appointees to immediately hand over their duties to career civil servants, just one day after being sworn in for a second term.
The instruction, issued via a circular from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), mandates affected appointees to transfer responsibilities to Permanent Secretaries or, where those positions are vacant, the most senior civil servant within their respective Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Signed by the Permanent Secretary of the SSG’s office, Dr. Nwabufor Nwankwo, the circular specifies that the handover process must be completed by the close of business on the same day the directive was communicated. This interim arrangement will remain in effect until Governor Soludo constitutes a new state cabinet.
“I am directed to inform all political appointees to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries or the most senior civil servant in the various MDAs on or before the close of work today, until a new cabinet is constituted,” the official communication stated.
In a separate development, the government has also summoned all first-term cabinet members for a meeting with the governor. The meeting is scheduled for March 23 at 10 a.m. at the Anambra State Executive Council Chambers.
This swift move is a standard transitional procedure following a governor’s re-inauguration, ensuring continuous public administration while the incoming administration finalizes its appointments. The directive effectively places the state’s day-to-day governance in the hands of the neutral civil service cadre pending the naming of new political leadership.
The action underscores Governor Soludo’s intent to begin his second term with a clean administrative slate, as is customary in many Nigerian states after an election. The March 23 meeting with outgoing cabinet members is expected to provide further clarity on the transition timeline and the process for forming the new executive council.
