Association of Heads of Federal Establishments Make Case For Secretariat in Ebonyi
By Alex Odeh
The Association of Heads of Federal Establishments (AHFE) in Ebonyi State on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, elected a new set of executives to pilot its affairs for the next two years as part of the significant leadership transitional step taken to reform the association in the state.
Mr. Marcel Akamabe, the Ebonyi State Coordinator of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, emerged as the new Chairman following a keenly contested election.
Speaking shortly after the inauguration ceremony in Abakaliki, Mr. Akamabe passionately advocated for the immediate construction of a standard Federal Secretariat complex in Ebonyi State, to serve as a unified and befitting base for all federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) operating in the state.
He said: “Ebonyi is long overdue for a standard Federal Secretariat,” Mr. Akamabe declared while addressing journalists.
“Federal establishments are currently scattered across different locations—some in the Ochudo Centenary City, Abakaliki, some occupying obsolete structures formerly used by the Ebonyi state ministries.
“This fragmentation not only hinders coordination and service delivery but also causes undue difficulty for members of the public trying to locate federal offices.”
He stressed that Ebonyi, being a full-fledged state of the Nigerian federation for nearly three decades, deserves the same infrastructure and institutional presence enjoyed by other states.
“When you speak of federal presence, it must be visible and accessible. Every well-travelled Nigerian can attest that most states boast standard federal secretariats. Why should Ebonyi be different? It is high time the federal government considered this critical need,” Akamabe said.
Responding to growing public concerns over the absence of critical federal agencies in Ebonyi, Akamabe explained that while AHFE cannot unilaterally relocate MDAs to the state, it can leverage its influence to engage and lobby relevant authorities.
“We operate within the dictates of federal structure and laws, but strategic engagements and lobbying can make a difference. If the government deems it fit that critical agencies be domiciled in Ebonyi, we will gladly support it. What we cannot do is give false promises outside our jurisdiction,” he explained.
Beyond infrastructural advocacy, Mr. Akamabe reaffirmed the association’s commitment to the welfare of its members and the broader Ebonyi community.
He revealed that a major end-of-year outreach program is being planned to support the less privileged, orphans, and vulnerable groups in the state.
“We are not just here to represent federal institutions. We have a social responsibility to the people we serve. Our December outreach is going to span a full week, targeting indigent members of society to give them a sense of belonging and hope,” he said.
He also pledged improved internal synergy among federal heads in Ebonyi to enhance productivity, visibility, and prompt service delivery to citizens.
The newly elected officials for the 2025–2027 tenure included Mr. Marcel Akamabe – Chairman (Legal Aid Council of Nigeria), Mrs. Ifeoma Ejike – Vice Chairman (Bank of Agriculture), Mr. Sunday Eze – Secretary (Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria), Mr. Samuel Nshii – Treasurer (Nigerian Customs Service), Mrs. Ifeoma Obi – Financial Secretary (National Library), Mrs. Lauretta Bakare – Assistant Secretary (Federal Ministry of Information), Mr. Chukwuemeka Opara – Public Relations Officer (PRO) (News Agency of Nigeria), Mr. Solomon Nwabueze – Provost (Nigerian Institute of Animal Science), Chief Unya Efor – Internal Auditor (Radio Nigeria, Unity FM), and Prof. Ama Udu – Ex–Officio (National Open University of Nigeria)
The newly elected leadership was charged with the responsibility to build bridges of cooperation between federal establishments and the state government, and to foster improved service delivery to the people of Ebonyi.
