The Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has effected a minor change in his cabinet by redeploying some commissioners to different Ministries as well as assigning portfolios to the two recently sworn-in commissioners.
Umar Musa Ikhilor, the Secretary to the State Government stated this in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Benin City.
Ikhilor said the governor also created a new Ministry of Inter-Ethnic Relations.
In the statement, the governor redeployed Omorodion Ikponmwosa, who was in the month of July suspended as Commissioner for Livestock Development to the Ministry of Oil and Gas.
Andrew Momodu, the Commissioner in charge of Oil was moved to the Ministry of Communications, while Ohimai Ehijimetor, the hirtherto Commissioner for Communications was re-assigned to the Ministry of Livestock development.
The governor, also assigned portfolios to the two commissioners that were recently sworn-in, who are Iriabekhai Kayode Jeffery and Martin Anayochukwu Oli.
While Iriabekhai Kayode Jeffery, was assigned to the Ministry of Mining, while Martin Anayochukwu Oli was posted to the new Ministry of Inter-Ethnic Relations as a pioneer commissioner of the ministry.
Jeffery replaced Andrew Ijegbai, who was the former commissioner of the ministry of mining following his election as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Owan Federal Constituency in the 2027 general election.
Also, Martin Anayochukwu Oli from Enugu State was assigned to the Ministry of Inter-Ethnic Relations as a pioneer Commissioner of the Ministry.
Okpebholo said the minor cabinet change was aimed at strengthening governance, enhancing efficiency and improving service delivery across the State.
He stated that the new Ministry of Inter-Ethnic Relations was created to promote inter-ethnic and inter-community harmony, strengthening peaceful coexistence.
He said, the new Ministry is also geared towards harnessing the rich and ever-evolving diversity of Edo citizens as an asset for the development and unity of the State.
He, however, added that the redeployment exercise was to further better align responsibilities with the respective skills, experience and competencies of members of the State Executive Council.
‘His Excellency expects all members of the State Executive Council to bring renewed vigour, professionalism and commitment to their respective assignments in furtherance of the administration’s determination to deliver efficient, responsive and people-centred governance to the people of Edo State’, he said.
He said all the deployments and redeployments are with immediate effect, while the redeployed commissioners are to ensure seamless handover and assumption of duties in their respective Ministries.