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Tag: Edo Government

  • Just in: Edo government appoints new SSG

    Just in: Edo government appoints new SSG

    The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has accepted the resignation of the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, and has appointed Joseph Eboigbe as the new SSG.

    Ogie resigned on August 9, 2024, to concentrate on his political ambition. He is the running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, in the September 21 election in the state.

    Ogie said his resignation is in conformity with the electoral law, which mandates political appointees who want to contest elections to resign 30 days before the election.

    In a statement on Monday, the Special Adviser to the governor on Media Project, Crusoe Osagie, said, “The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has accepted the resignation of the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, who, in line with extant laws has stepped down from his position to pursue his ambition to run as the Deputy Governor of Edo State.

    “The governor thanks Ogie for his commitment and loyalty to the vision of building a vibrant and prosperous State championed by his administration in the last seven years.

    “Governor Obaseki wishes Ogie the best in his aspirations and trusts that he will bring his wealth of experience to bear in pursuing his quest to serve the Edo people.”

    The statement added, “The governor has also approved the appointment of Joseph Eboigbe as the new Secretary to the State Government. The appointment takes immediate effect.

    “Eboigbe served as former Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget and Economic Planning and later as Commissioner for Finance. He takes over as Secretary to the State Government to now run the final lap and continue the Governor’s Finishing Strong agenda.

    “Eboigbe, a chartered accountant, had a 15-year stint at Deloitte before venturing into public service. He holds an MSc in Leadership and Strategy from the London Business School.”

  • Just In: Edo palaver enters stage 2 as Shaibu moves out of Govt House

    Just In: Edo palaver enters stage 2 as Shaibu moves out of Govt House

    The palaver rocking Edo state has entered stage two as Deputy Governor Phillip Shaibu, has reportedly moved his office out of the Government House.

    This is despite withdrawing a suit he filed against Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    The new office is situated at No. 7, Dennis Osadebey Avenue, close to the Government House.

    Sources close to the deputy governor revealed that a letter was sent by the Head of Service to the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor instructing her to supervise the movement of civil servants and files to the new office.

    It was also gathered that the new office is not habitable as there is no electricity, is waterlogged, and the office spaces are significantly small.

    The state government had however insisted that the deputy governor’s new office is within the confines of the area designated as the Government House.

  • Edo Govt lends LGs N850m to pay December salary

    Edo Govt lends LGs N850m to pay December salary

    The Edo State Government says it has loaned local government councils in the state, the sum of N850 million to clear salaries of council workers for December, in lieu of the release of Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations to the councils.

    The state governor Godwin Obaseki on Wednesday said he got the recommendation from the state’s ministry of finance which confirmed that the councils are yet to receive an allocation from the Federation Account even after the December 18, 2021, FAAC meeting in Abuja.

    He disclosed this during an onboarding programme for his political appointees at the John Odigie-Oyegun staff training centre in Benin City, the Edo State’s capital.

    The governor said its prudent management of public resources, made it possible to settle salaries and pension of state workers since December 14 from its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    According to the Finance Ministry who were part of the virtual FAAC meeting of December 18, where N675.9billion was shared among the three tiers of government, Edo state local government authorities have not been able to access their funds thereby putting them in a financial crisis.

    In view of this, however, the executive council agreed that the State Government advance the 18 local government councils in the state a bailout to enable them to clear the salary of their workers.

  • Obaseki fulfills threats, refuses civil servants with no proof of COVID-19 vaccination entry into offices

    Obaseki fulfills threats, refuses civil servants with no proof of COVID-19 vaccination entry into offices

    The Governor Godwin Obaseki led Edo State Government on Wednesday fulfilled its earlier threats of barring civil servants without proof of COVID-19 vaccination entry into their offices within the secretariat.

    True to the government’s warning, workers at the state secretariat and the 18 local government areas in the state were met with a notice asking them to show proof of their vaccinations.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the decision followed the announcement by the State Government on Tuesday that it will begin enforcing the ‘no-vaccination-no-work’ policy.

    “We have trained special teams and these special teams will be spread across the 18 local governments of Edo State.

    “What we are going to do tomorrow is to allow those who have the authentic vaccination card, access to their government working places and those without, can go back and work from home and government will know how to deal with that,” the Head of the COVID-19 Enforcement Team in the state, Haruna Yusuf, said at a briefing on Tuesday.

    This comes amid speculations that the state government is working towards making vaccination compulsory for all residents.

    However, Governor Godwin Obaseki in a statement last week described the reports as an “obvious misconception”.

    He had given residents up to the second week of September to get a vaccine or risk being barred from public places such as banks, receptions, churches and mosques.

    So far, Edo State has recorded 6,008 COVID-19 cases.

    It has also recorded the second-highest death toll in the country (215) – justifying talks about the ‘compulsory vaccination’, as part of measures to curb the spread of the virus.

  • COVID-19: Edo records 4 deaths within 24 hours

    COVID-19: Edo records 4 deaths within 24 hours

    Edo Government said on Friday in Benin that it recorded four deaths and 28 new cases of COVID-19 within the last 24 hours from the third wave of the pandemic.

    The State Head of the COVID-19 response team, Dr Ebomwonyi Osagie, disclosed this during the daily press briefing on COVID-19.

    He said the state has recorded a total of 28 new cases with four deaths and no recoveries within the last 24 hours from unvaccinated persons.

    “We have 34 persons in admission, 226 persons in home care and 99 persons had been discharged and 9,663 samples have been collected since the current outbreak of the third wave.

    “As we speak to you today, we now have 18 people dead from the third wave while from the beginning of the outbreak we have over 200 people who died,” he said.

    Also speaking, the State Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Health, Dr Osamwonyi Irowa, said that efforts are being made to vaccinate teachers ahead of school resumption.

    Irowa further said that there is the for parents to also get vaccinated so that they don’t get infected with the virus transmitted through their children.

  • Edo Government suspends Principal, House master of school where seniors abuse junior students

    Edo Government suspends Principal, House master of school where seniors abuse junior students

    The Edo Government has suspended the principal of a public Secondary School, Edo College, in Benin, after a video of abuse of Junior students by their Seniors went viral.

    A statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Osarodion Ogie on Tuesday in Benin directed the Principal, Mr Peter Edomwonyi to proceed on immediate suspension pending conclusion of investigation into the matter.

    Ogie said “government has watched with disdain the disturbing viral video of abuse by students of Edo College, Benin on social media, ” also announced the indefinite suspension of the House Master for Akenzua Hall of Residence, Master Oamen Stanley.

    He said the State Ministry of Education on enquiry discovered that the incident took place at the college premises and involved Senior Secondary School (SSS) students of Akenzua Hall of residence, who were writing their National Examinations Council (NECO) final examination.

    “The disturbing video exposed the incompetence of the management of the school authority and the delinquent behaviour of the students who carried out the abusive action.

    “On account of the above, government has taken the following actions, the Principal of Edo College, Mr Peter Edomwonyi, has been instructed to proceed on suspension effective immediately.

    “He is to hand over all property and assets of the school in his possession to the next most senior Vice Principal of the school.

    “He is to remain on suspension until investigation of the incident is concluded and government provides further directive on the matter.

    “The House Master for Akenzua Hall of Residence, Master Oamen Stanley, has also been suspended indefinitely with immediate effect.

    “All the students involved in the abusive behaviour have been handed over to the Ministry of Justice for investigation and prosecution in accordance with the Child Rights Law.’’

    According to Ogie, the Edo State Ministry of Health is reaching out to the victims to ascertain the state of their health and provide the necessary support.

    “The Edo State Government is committed to maintaining a school environment that is safe for children and apologises to the victims of the abuse, their parents and members of the public.’’

  • BREAKING: [Sports Festival] Edo Government fulfills threat, shuts MOC, LOC offices

    BREAKING: [Sports Festival] Edo Government fulfills threat, shuts MOC, LOC offices

    The Edo State Government on Thursday fulfilled its threats as Deputy Governor Phillip Shuaibu ordered closure of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and Main Organising Committee (MOC) offices of the ongoing 20th National Sports Festival holding in Benin City.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the Governor Obaseki led government had hinted on Wednesday night it might be forced to shutdown the almost one-week old NSF due to paucity of funds.

    It alleged the Federal government through the Ministry of Youth & Sports Development was yet to release its counterpart funding for the games.

    Addressing journalists inside the media centre at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Shuaibu said the decision to shut down the LOC and MOC offices was because the state can no longer foot the bill of the NSF without the financial assistance of the Federal government.

    However, the Federal Government in a response on Thursday said the festival will continue as planned.

    The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development said it was not aware of any officially documented move to shut down the games.

    Details shortly…

  • Edo Government threatens to shut down ongoing National Sports Festival today over lack of funds, support from FG

    Edo Government threatens to shut down ongoing National Sports Festival today over lack of funds, support from FG

    The Governor Obaseki led Edo State Government, hosts of the ongoing 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) in Benin, will shut down the 13-day event by 12 noon Thursday, an official said late Wednesday.

    Musa Ebomhiana, Project Manager with the Media and Communications Sub-Committee of the festival’s Local Organising Committee (LOC), said the decision was necessitated by Federal Government’s refusal to fulfill a promise.

    He said the Federal Government failed to support the state with funds as promised, and the state government had no choice other than shutting down the festival.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this decision was taken aften an emergency meeting of the festival’s Local Organising Committee (LOC) headed by the Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

    “You can quote me, that we just finished from an emergency meeting of the LOC, and as I speak with you we have decided to shut down the festival by 12 noon tomorrow (Thursday).

    “The decision was arrived at because the Federal Government has reneged on its promise to assist the state with funds.

    “Because of that, we are closing the festival,” Ebomhiana stated.

    He however did not disclosed how the LOC was going to shut down the festival.

    NAN could not get the reaction of the festival organisers, the Main Organising Committee (MOC), to this development as at the time of this report.

    It could not also get the reaction of the festival’s owners, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

    John Joshua-Akanji, an aide of the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, however responded immediately he was contacted.

    The Special Assistant on Media to the minister urged NAN to get across to the MOC’s Secretary, Peter Nelson, who could however not be reached.

    NAN reports that Edo had solicited financial support from the Federal Government for it to play host to the other states of the federation and the FCT.

    It had hinged its demand upon the inconveniences brought about by the several postponements of the festival which was earlier billed for March 2020.

    The postponements were as a result of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The rescheduled festival had commenced on April 2 to last till April 14, and if it was shut down on Thursday it would just be in its seventh day.

  • Edo govt accepts #EndSARS protesters demand to organise state burial for man killed during protest

    Edo govt accepts #EndSARS protesters demand to organise state burial for man killed during protest

    Edo State Government on Friday granted request for a state burial for the victim of #EndSARS protest who was allegedly shot dead by hoodlums who hijacked the protest in Benin.

    The State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu granted the request when hundreds of the protesters matched to the state’s government house with the corpse of the victim.

    Spokesman for the protesters, David Osayande, had requested that a state burial should be given to the victim who was earlier identified simply as Ikpomwosa.

    “One of us has been killed during this struggle. Sir, we want state burial for that man, we want an end to police brutality, we want the police to stop arresting us without any offence,” Osayande said.

    Responding, the deputy governor disclosed that the state government has given security agencies a 24-hour ultimatum to fish out killers of the victim.

    Shaibu, who walked with the protesters from the government house to the city centre, said the state government supported the protest and did not want either SARS or SWAT in the state.

    According to him, “The police, Department of State Security and others are to bring to book those guys that shot at you, stoned you and the guys that killed that young man to book.

    “Some of you sustained injuries, I can see them from here, they have 24 hours to bring them to book.

    “I have ordered that the victim should be taken to the morgue. We are going to give him a state burial, like the young guy said, because the martyrs of this struggle must be remembered.

    “He will be remembered for being part of this struggle, he is a martyr and by the grace of God he will never be forgotten.

    “When all this reform has taken place, it will be on record that he joined the struggle for emancipation. I want to assure that Edo state government believes in your peaceful protest.

    “No properties was destroyed, nobody was injured, that is what is called peaceful protest and you have been doing that.

    “Those miscreants that want to create problem, I can assure you that we will not fold out hands as a state, to watch them brutalize anyone, that I want to assure you, so, please maintain your peaceful protest.”

  • Court declines request to freeze Edo Govt’s accounts

    Court declines request to freeze Edo Govt’s accounts

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has declined a request by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) for an order freezing accounts of the Edo Government over its alleged refusal to the outstanding salaries and entitlements of court workers in the state.

    JUSUN had also prayed the court to order confiscation of what was due to Edo State from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

    In a ruling on Thursday, Justice Okon Abang held the request made ex-parte by the national headquarters of JUSUN was capable of crippling the activities of the state before the forthcoming governorship election.

    Justice Abang noted that the motion ” coming less than a month before the governorship election scheduled for September 19, 2020 is designed to cripple governance in the state.”

    The judge was of the view that the motion was filed in bad faith and that he reasonably believe that those behind it have ulterior motive.

    He said: “It is ill-motivated because the judgment of this court can still be enforced even after the election in Edo State.

    “The reason offered by JUSUN for bringing this application during 2020 annual vacation of the court in the course of the forthcoming election in Edo State, and the purported claim of controversy being generated by two leading political parties in Edo State and also the threat to order closure of all bank accounts of Edo State by faction of the Edo State House of Assembly, my lords, these are not good and substantial reasons.”

    The judge said the outcome of the Edo poll would not affect the subsisting judgment of the court given on January 13, 2014, which was not appealed.

    Justice Abang added any of the parties that win election would have no choice than to comply with the subsisting judgment provided the lawyer to the judgment creditor or the judgment creditor itself will do the proper thing by ascertaining the actual amount they are entitled to.

    While holding the application was lacking in merit, the judge described it as “vague” for failing to disclose the amount the union members were being owed by the state government.

    The judge said the action was an abuse of court process.

    He proceeded to dismiss the application and adjourned further proceedings in the case against the other states to September 30.