Edo councillors lock out chairman over bailout loan

There was confusion at the secretariat of Egor Local Government Area of Edo State on Monday when some councillors locked out the council chairman, Mr. Victor Enobakhare, for allegedly failing to disclose the actual amount received as bailout fund from the state government.

It will be recalled that the Federal Government had approved over N3bn for Edo to cushion the effects of dwindling federal allocations.

It was, however, gathered that the protesting councillors also demanded to know what accrued to the council account as internally generated revenue.

They also demanded to know the actual cost of running the local government and the payment of outstanding salaries to workers.

According to sources, the councillors, whose identities could not be ascertained at the time of filing the report, barricaded the gate of the secretariat when Enobakhare tried to gain access into his office.

Efforts to reach the chairman on the phone were unsuccessful.

But the council secretary, Mr. Joshua Uwagboe, who confirmed the incident, however, described the action of the local government lawmakers as improper and based on misinformation.

Uwagboe, who said that he was unaware of the release of the funds, explained that while councillors had the right to information, they should have conducted themselves in a peaceful manner.

“They said they wanted the chairman to answer them. We believe that standing in front of the gate was not the right thing.

“They are lawmakers; if they want any information, they can invite the chairman. I do not think they have invited the chairman and he refused to answer.

“I believe that they were misinformed. There is peace now in the council secretariat,” he said.

Edo councillors lock out chairman over bailout loan