By Lucky Isibor
Edo State Government, has directed all the Heads of Local Government Administration (HoLGAs) across the 18 Local Government Areas in the state to proceed on immediate compulsory leave.
Chairman of the Edo State Local Government Service Commission, Hon. Adjoto Kabiru, gave the directive while briefing news in Benin City, stating that the directive was aimed at strengthening local government administration in the state.
While noting that one of the major functions of the Commission is to discipline, promote, recruit, training and retraining of staff and provision of welfare for the local government staff, Hon. Adjoto pointed out that it is the duty of government to ensure development spread to the grassroots.
The Chairman pointed out as part of efforts to ensure that local government administration key int the SHINE Agenda of Governor Monday Okpebholo, the Commission embarked on working tour of the Local Government Councils in the state with a view to assessing their level of preparations to implement the programmes at the grassroots which he said necessitated the administrative restructuring in local government administration.
“In line with the SHINE Agenda of His Excellency, Comrade Senator Monday Okpebholo, we moved around, made some observations and after our movement around the entire 18 local government, the Commission met we have taken some decisions and those decisions are part of what we are about to communicate to the general public.
“One of the decisions we have taken is directive to all local government administration HoLGAs to proceed on compulsory leave.
“Will proceed starting from today on compulsory leave. In line with the ongoing restructuring and revamping of the local government council system aimed at strengthening administrative efficiency, promoting accountability, transparency and repositioning the local government service for improved service delivery.
“The local Government Service Commission has reviewed the existing administration framework across the council that is, across the 18 local government council.
“Consequent upon this, the commission hereby directs all Heads of Local Government Administration across the 18 Local Government Council to proceed on compulsory leave with effect from today.”
The former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, said the compulsory leave has become imperative to avoid undue interference.
“The measure has become very necessary to allow for thorough assessment for improved administrative operation at the local government level.
“Ensure a fair and objective review of posting, staff deployment and record management practices, encourage transparency and restore confidence in the local government system, provide opportunity for fresh administrative perspective as part of commission’s reform agenda”, Adjoto said.
Adjoto equally ordered the Director of Administrative and General Services to takeover and oversee the day to day administration of every local government pending further directive from the Commission.
All concerned officers were further directed to hand over all government properly in their possession to the Director of Administration and General Services in their respective Local Government Councils and comply with the directive without delay.
While others are to go on compulsory leave, the Akoko-Edo HoLGA and its Director of Finance (DEFA) are to embark on compulsory leave and interdiction following an alleged petition leveled against them.
The chairman of the Commission also said that the commission has embarked on the digitization of the operations in the commission just as he said that training and retraining of local government staff will be pursued to the letter by this administration.
Speaking on the digitization of the commission, the Director of Budget, Planning, Research and Statistics, Local Government Service Commission, Osazee Obaizamomwan, disclosed that about 382 shadow files were recovered and 138 retired files were still in the shelves adding that it described the efficacies of the digitization of the Commission.
Obaizamomwan said they have achieved 90% work in the digitalizaton process adding that when they will brief the media about the outcome of the reform at the end of the exercise.