By: Eben Enasco Kingsley(Benin city)
The Edo State House of Assembly,EDHA, has approved with immediate effect the suspension of four local government chairmen for alleged non-payment of staff salaries, diversion of Internally Generated Funds, IGR, among others.
The four chairmen suspended were, Hon Emmanuel Momoh, Etsako Central Local Government Area; Hon Victor Enobakhare, Egor Local Government Area; Hon Osaro Obazee, Oredo Local Government Area and Hon Roland Ibierutomwen,Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
In a letter to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly Rt Hon Victor Edoro,Prof Julius Ihonvbere, said: “I am directed by the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, to inform you that in compliance with the relevant sections of the Local Government Act which mandates consultation with Edo State House of Assembly, the Governor wishes to inform Mr.Speaker and Members of the House that the afformentioned local government Chairmen are hereby suspended from office with effect from today Tuesday October 6, 2015.
“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 speaker Rt Hon. Victor Edoro, while reading the letter during plenary section concomitantly approved the suspension of the four LGA chairmen.
According to him, “during the period of suspension, relevant independent panel would be constituted to investigate the allegations against the affected LGA bosses”.
In the same light, a motion calling on relevant government agencies to urgently relocate communities along the River Niger Bank in Esan South East LGA in a bid to avoid flood disaster was presented by Hon. Edughele Igbalokoto representing the constituency.
