The Governor of Abia State Alex Otti has forwarded names of 19 commissioner-nominees to the State House of Assembly for confirmation.
The names are Monica Ironkwe, Eme Uche, Joel Ogbonna, Kingsely Anoribe, Philemon Ogbonna, Mike Akpara, Okey Kanu, Ikechukwu Uwaoma, and Chaka Chukwumereije.
Others are Uzo Nwachukwu, Chima Emmanuel Oriaku, Nwaobilor Ananaba, Chimezie Ukaegbu, Ngozi Felix, Otumchere Oti, Okebugwu Onwuma, Ikechukwu Monday, and Mathew Chikodi Ekwuribe.
Three professors are among those shortlisted for the commissionership.
As it has been the practice, the portfolios for to be appointed as commissioners were not given.
Otti gave the list hours after he suspended permanent secretaries and the head of the civil service in the state.
This comes exactly one month after Mr Otti was sworn in as state governor and 16 days after the House was inaugurated.
The governor, told the State Assembly to screen the nominees for possible confirmation as substantive commissioners in the state.
The letter was addressed to the Speaker of the Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa.
