Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Edo State Government, has given a marching order to Heads of Local Government Administration (HoLGAs) across the 18 Local Government Areas in the state to embark on compulsory leave.
The Chairman, of the Edo State Local Government Service Commission, Adjoto Kabiru, disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Benin.
He said the move was to revamp the local government administration in the state.
According to him “And in line with the Shine Agenda of His Excellency Comrade Senator Monday Okpebholo, we moved around, made some observation and after our movement around the entire 18 local government, the commission met and there and 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 for 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 became so important 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 further 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.
He asked all concerned officers to hand over properly and comply with this directive without delay.
While others are to go on compulsory leave, the Ekoko-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.
Commenting on the digitization of the commission, the Director Budget Planning, Research and Statistics, Local Government Service Commission, Osazee Obaizamomwan, said about 382 shadow files were recovered and 138 retired files were still in the shelves adding that, such described the efficacies of the digitization of the commission.