The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin
Obaseki, on Wednesday sacked the Commissioner for Environment and
Sustainability, Mr. Reginald Okun.
Obaseki, on Wednesday sacked the Commissioner for Environment and
Sustainability, Mr. Reginald Okun.
Obaseki also approved the retirement of the General Manager of the Edo State Waste Management Board, Mr. Aiyamenkue Akonofua.
The governor, according to a statement
signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Osarodion Ogie,
also ordered the redeployment of the Permanent Secretary in the
ministry, Mrs. R. E. Obahiagbon.
He urged the disengaged officials to
hand over their duties to the most senior government officials in their
offices with immediate effect.
hand over their duties to the most senior government officials in their
offices with immediate effect.
While thanking the affected appointees
for their service and wishing them well in their future endeavours, he
also directed them to hand over all government property in their
possession to the appropriate authorities.
for their service and wishing them well in their future endeavours, he
also directed them to hand over all government property in their
possession to the appropriate authorities.
Although the statement did not give the
reasons for Obaseki’s action, our correspondent learnt it might not be
unconnected with the protest by the street sweepers in Benin on Tuesday.
reasons for Obaseki’s action, our correspondent learnt it might not be
unconnected with the protest by the street sweepers in Benin on Tuesday.
The street cleaners had staged a protest
over the alleged non-payment of their outstanding allowances by the Edo
State Government.
over the alleged non-payment of their outstanding allowances by the Edo
State Government.
The protesters claimed that they were
owed allowances spanning six months, a situation which they said exposed
them to hardship and debts.
owed allowances spanning six months, a situation which they said exposed
them to hardship and debts.
They had also accused the government of failing to fulfil its earlier promise to pay their entitlements.
Obaseki had said that the government was
not indebted to them as they were hired by contractors. But the
aggrieved sweepers maintained that they were engaged by the government.
not indebted to them as they were hired by contractors. But the
aggrieved sweepers maintained that they were engaged by the government.
It was gathered that the governor was
angered by the poor handling of the contractors by the ministry. A
source at the Government House, who did not want to be named, told our
correspondent that Obaseki also viewed the continual protests by the
cleaners as an embarrassment to his administration.
The source said, “It was in response to
the outcry by the sweepers. The sweepers protest yesterday (Tuesday). It
was the poor management of the contractors by the commissioner, GM and
the board that led to the incessant strikes by the street sweepers. So,
that was why the governor took the decision.”
the outcry by the sweepers. The sweepers protest yesterday (Tuesday). It
was the poor management of the contractors by the commissioner, GM and
the board that led to the incessant strikes by the street sweepers. So,
that was why the governor took the decision.”
……..Don’t forget to like The Drum Online Facebook page and always visit www.thedrumonline.net for your news updates.
Contact us on +2348037122191 & princesegun98@yahoo.com for your advert placements….. Thank you.
