Emmanuel Clement
Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has formally sworn in 18 newly confirmed commissioners, warning them against viewing public office as an avenue for personal enrichment and political entitlement.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Executive Council Chambers inside the Light House in Awka, marked a major step in the implementation of the governor’s second-term development agenda under what he described as “Team Solution 2.0.”
The event followed the successful screening and confirmation of the nominees by the Anambra State House of Assembly. Four heads of key government agencies were also inaugurated into the State Executive Council to strengthen institutional coordination and accelerate governance delivery.
With Barrister Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, and Mr. Izuchukwu M. Okafor, Commissioner for Finance, having been sworn in earlier, Anambra State’s executive cabinet now has a total of 21 commissioners.
Addressing the newly inaugurated officials, Governor Soludo stressed that appointments in his administration should not be seen as opportunities for luxury or personal gain, but as demanding assignments requiring discipline, sacrifice, and dedication.
“In Nigeria, a public appointment is too often viewed as a call to ‘come and chop.’ But under this administration, I don’t see a dining table. What I see is grueling work; I see fields where you must sweat to serve,” the governor declared.
He disclosed that the selection process for the commissioners was deliberate and merit-based, aimed at assembling competent individuals capable of driving the administration’s vision for a prosperous and liveable Anambra State.
Using an aviation metaphor to describe the urgency of governance in his second term, Soludo noted that the administration was already operating at full speed.
“The plane is already on autopilot. If you don’t get into the passenger cabin, you must get directly into the cockpit. We are in a race against time to build a liveable and prosperous homeland for over nine million Ndi Anambra,” he said.
The governor further urged the appointees to constantly reflect on the Oath of Office they swore to uphold, revealing that he personally keeps a copy of his own oath in his bedroom as a daily reminder of his responsibilities.
He also appealed to the families and associates of the commissioners to moderate their expectations, emphasizing that public service demands round-the-clock commitment and selfless sacrifice.
The newly sworn-in commissioners were assigned portfolios across major sectors including Agriculture, Education, Health, Environment, Power, Transport, Works and Infrastructure, Housing, Commerce, Youth Development, and Women Affairs.
Also inaugurated into the State Executive Council were the heads of the Anambra Road Traffic Management Agency, Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, ICT Agency, and Bureau of Public Procurement.
Speaking on behalf of the appointees, Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Law Mefor thanked Governor Soludo and the Anambra State House of Assembly for the confidence reposed in them, pledging their commitment to effective service delivery and the advancement of the state’s development agenda.