The Edo State House of Assembly has approved the suspension of four local government chairmen in the state.
Those affected and their respective councils are Osaro Obazee, Oredo; Victor Enobakhare, Egor; Roland Ibierutomwen, Orhiomwon and Emmanuel Momoh, Estako Central.
The suspension, which was announced on Friday, followed a request by Governor Adams Oshiomhole in letter seeking legislative backing for the suspension of the LG bosses.
The lawmakers approved the letter and suspended the chairmen in the first instance, while instructing the respective Vice Chairmen to take over the affairs of the affected councils.
According to the letter, Oshiomhole listed non-payment of salaries without proper explanation; illegal employment, diversion of funds, lack of due process in the award of contracts and inability to account for internally generated revenue, as the reasons behind the suspension of the four council chairmen.
The letter, which was signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, read, “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.”
The governor noted that his letter was in line with relevant sections of the local government laws, as amended.
He stated that the suspension was necessary to enable a panel of inquiry to investigate the allegations levelled against the council chiefs.
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