NULGE lauds suspension of Edo council chairmen

The Edo State chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees has ‎applauded the suspension of four local government chairmen by Governor Adams Oshiomhole, over their alleged inability to account for the internally generated revenue of their respective councils, the non-payment of workers’ salaries and other allegations.

Governor Oshiomhole

The ‎Secretary of the union, Mr. Chukwuemeka Aguonye, who spoke to The PUNCH on Wednesday also urged the governor to extend his action to other councils, in order to serve as a wake-up call.

Oshiomhole had in a letter addressed to the state House of Assembly on Tuesday noted th‎at the two-month suspension of the affected council chiefs was to enable a panel of inquiry conduct an investigation.

‎Those suspended were Osaro Obazee, Oredo; Victor Enobakhare, Egor; Roland Ibierutomwen, Orhiomwon and Emmanuel Momoh, Estako Central.‎

But Aguonye alleged that many of the council chairmen had failed to demonstrate efficiency in the management of LG funds, adding that many of them had inherited “as much as N60m,” which was made available by the state governor.

He also noted that they failed to adopt the suggestions offered by the union to “look ‎inwards” in order to fashion out measures aimed at improving their IGR.

But the State Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Mrs. Itohan Osahon-Ogbeide,‎ declined comments on the matter, when contacted.

However, the Aguonye said, “We just have to commend the governor for that‎ action. These are the same chairmen that met millions of naira when they resumed. The governor was able to save a lot of money for all of them; some even had as much as N40m, N60m and within few weeks, all of them squandered it, without making provisions for the rainy day.

NULGE lauds suspension of Edo council chairmen

Edo Assembly approves suspension of Victor Enobakhare, 3 other LG chairmen

The Edo State House of Assembly has approved the suspension of four local government chairmen in the state.

Those affected and their respective councils are Osaro Obazee, Oredo; Victor Enobakhare, Egor; Roland Ibierutomwen, Orhiomwon and Emmanuel Momoh, Estako Central.

The suspension, which was announced on Friday,  followed a request by Governor Adams Oshiomhole in letter seeking legislative backing for the suspension of the LG bosses.

Edo State Tribunal

The lawmakers approved the letter and suspended the chairmen in the first instance, while instructing the respective Vice Chairmen to take over the affairs of the affected councils.

‎According to the letter, Oshiomhole listed non-payment of salaries without proper explanation; illegal employment, diversion of funds, lack of due process in the award of contracts and inability to account for internally generated revenue, as the reasons behind the suspension of the four council chairmen.

‎The letter, which was signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, read, “Their suspension, which is for two months, is to pave the way for unhindered investigation into several allegations against the chairmen, which includes non-payment of staff salaries without satisfactory explanations, inability to account for internally generated revenue, diversion of funds, failure to follow due process in the award of contracts as well as illegal employment of senior officers without going through Local Government Service Commission, which is a violation of laid-down provisions.”

‎The governor noted that his letter was in line with relevant sections of the local government laws, as amended.

He stated that the suspension was necessary to enable a panel of inquiry to investigate the allegations levelled against the council chiefs.

Edo Assembly approves suspension of Victor Enobakhare, 3 other LG chairmen

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