The Edo State government may have eased out Heads of Local Government Administration in the 18 local government councils in the state with a directive on Wednesday by the State Local Government Service Commission sending them on compulsory leave.
According to the order by the Chairman of the commission, Kabiru Adjoto, given at a press conference in Benin City, the state capital, the compulsory leave would last for 30 days after which it would be reviewed.
Adjoto, a former speaker of the state House of Assembly, told journalists that the directive was the outcome of the commission’s visit to all the local government councils.
A source close to one of the councils however hinted Newmata.com.ng that the decision was aimed at removing the heads of the local governments over alleged “uncooperative attitude” towards making available to the state government some financial details about the councils because of their perceived loyalties to their ousted chairmen.
The source, who recalled how Governor Monday Okpebholo allegedly used the House of Assembly to remove the former elected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) local government chairmen through suspension, predicted that the commission would look for the slightest allegation of corruption to compulsorily retire the officials and bring in “more cooperative” officers.
Adjoto had directed the affected heads of local government to hand over to the councils’ Directors of Administrative and General Services.
According to the chairman who was flanked by other members of the commission, “The local Government Service Commission has reviewed the existing administration framework across the 18 local government councils.
“Consequently, the commission hereby directs all heads of local government administration across the 18 local government councils to proceed on compulsory leave with effect from today.”
He explained that “the measure has become very necessary to allow for thorough assessment for improved administrative operation at the local government level, ensure a fair and objective review of posting, staff deployment and record management practices, as well as encourage transparency and restore confidence in the local government system. Adjoto said the compulsory leave would also “provide an opportunity for fresh administrative perspective as part of the commission’s reform agenda and on account of feedback from our familiarisation visit”.
He stated that “During the period of this compulsory leave, the director of Administrative and General Services shall oversee the day-to-day administration of every local government”, adding, “Pending further directive from this commission, all concerned officers are advised to hand over properly and comply with this directive without delay.”
Adjoto, who insisted that “our task is very clear – to positively reposition the workforce of the local government in such a way that dividends of democracy trickle down to the grassroots,” said to this effect, the commission had commenced digitalisation with 90 percent completion.
The commission’s chairman disclosed that in the process of the digitalisation, 382 shadow files were detected, while 132 retired files were found.
