Edo State House of Assembly has suspended four local government chairmen for non-payment of staff salaries and alleged diversion of funds, among others.
The four chairmen are: Emmanuel Momoh, Etsako Central Local Government Area; Victor Enobakhare, Egor Local Government Area; Osaro Obazee, Oredo Local Government Area and Roland Ibierutomwen, Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
Governor Oshiomhole, in a letter to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, through the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, said: “I am directed by the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams 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 underlisted Local Government Chairmen are hereby suspended from office with effect from October 6, 2015.
The chairmen are: Emmanuel Momoh, Chairman, Etsako Central Local Government Council; Victor Enobakhare, Chairman, Egor Local Government Council; Osaro Obazee, Chairman, Oredo Local Government Council and Roland Ibierutomwen, Chairman, Orhionmwon Local Government Council.
“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.
“In the meantime, during the period of suspension, relevant panels would be constituted to investigate the allegations against the affected chairmen.
“The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to inform the Honourable Speaker and the House, of this development for record purposes.”
Meanwhile, Edo State House of Assembly yesterday set up an adhoc committee to investigate alleged misappropriation of funds by the Chairman of Akoko Edo Local Government Area of the state, Mr Akeredolu Folorunso.
This followed a petition by one Bello Sunday, an indigene of the area, urging the House to investigate alleged misappropriation of funds against the council boss after the petitioner decried alleged under development in the area and none payment of worker’s salaries.
