By Oladipo Airenakho
Benin-based lawyer and civil society activist, Barrister Abraham Oviawe, has urged the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to take an overall critical look at why almost all local government chairmen in the state owe their workers months of salary arrears.
Barrister Oviawe spoke recently in Benin in reaction to the state government’s suspension of four local government chairmen over their inability to clear arrears of their workers’ salaries.
He questioned the criteria used in their suspension, saying there were pointers that several other local government chairmen have also been unable to fulfil their obligations to pay salaries.
The activist said though the law backs Governor Adams Oshiomhole on his decision to suspend the four local government chairmen of Egor, Etsako Central, Oredo and Orhionmwon,” but what the law did not envisage was the manner it would be executed.”
“One cannot discountenance the speculation that the suspension is connected to the build-up to the 2016 governorship race in the state as the camp you are in determines where you stand with the governor,” he posited.
Barrister Oviawe however said Governor Adams Oshiomhole must create a template ‘’for what is good for the geese is also good for the gander.’’
Nothing, he said was working in the Local Government Council Areas; “earth roads are bad, and salaries are unpaid in practically all of them and yet the governor singled out these 4 chairmen for suspension,” he queried.
He wondered why despite several protests and allegations of corruption against some other council chairmen the state government had not deemed it fit to suspend and investigate those involved.
“The chairmen of Owan West, Uhunmwode and Ovia South West Local Government Areas are amongst others having problems paying salaries of their workers talk-less of embarking on small infrastructural projects for their people.”
To douse any public suspicions therefore for the motive of what he called a selective suspension by the state government, Barrister Abraham Oviawe called on Governor Adams Oshiomhole to release to the public a breakdown of allocations from the Federal Government to the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.
‘’If Edo State government is sincere then it should release to the public, through the Ministry of Local Government, the spreadsheet of allocations from the Federal Government to the Local Government Areas,’’ he demanded.
But, then, even before the committee of inquiry into the allegations against the four local government councils chairmen commences sitting, one of the affected, Honorable Osaro Obazee of Oredo council recently came out to say the monthly allocation from the federal government was inadequate to cater for salaries of all his workers.
‘’After payments of teachers salaries what is left is far from enough to pay all other staff of my council.
“And when you consider that practically all areas for internally generated revenue have been taken over by the state then you can imagine what the financial state of the local council will look like,’’ he said.
Meanwhile all attempts to reach other suspended local government chairmen for their reactions failed.
It would be recalled that Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State suspended four Local Government Chairmen in the state last week for alleged non-payment of staff salaries, diversion of funds among others.
The four chairmen are 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 Edo State House of Assembly, the secretary to the government, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, said he was directed by the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole to inform him of the decision in compliance with the relevant sections of the Local Government Act which mandates consultation with Edo State House of Assembly.
The suspension order, according to Prof. Ihonvbere took effect from Tuesday October 6, 2015 and would last for two months to pave the way for unhindered investigation into several allegations against the Chairmen.
Such allegations, he said included 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.
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