Suspension Of Ehima To Forestall Anarchy - EDSG

The decision of the Edo State Government to suspend the Chairman of Oredo Local Government Council, Deacon Mike Ehima from office is to save the local government from anarchy and restore sanity to the area.

This was disclosed in Benin City by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Victor Enoghama when the Executive members of the National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Oredo Local Government chapter visited him in his office to declare their support for the governor’s decision to suspend Deacon Ehima.

He said the state government was surprised to note that after the suspended chairman had received over a billion Naira from both excess crude and federal allocation, the funds were mismanaged by the chairman to the extent that he could not pay workers salaries for two months.

“Apart from the non-payment of workers salaries, a situation that forced the workers to embark on an industrial action, the suspended chairman also exhibited a clear sign of inability to pilot the affairs of the council as the entire local government area has been taken over by heaps of refuse.

The Commissioner enjoined the Oredo NULGE officials to co-operate with the new acting Chairman of the council, Mr. Omorogieva Gbajumo, saying that the state government will not hesitate to use relevant security agents against the suspended chairman if found within the premises of the Oredo secretariat.
He noted that the state government relied on the 2002 local government law as amended to suspend the chairman.

“ The alleged 2006 local government law, the suspended chairman is citing has not been gazzeted and any law not gazzeted can not be relied on as it has not been brought to the knowledge of the public” he added.
The Charman, National Union of Local Government Employees, Oredo Chapter, Comrade Sonny Igbinovia, onbehalf of the entire staff of Oredo Local Government declared their support for the governors suspension order slammed on Deacon
Enoma.

The NULGE chairman, whose speech was read by the Oredo NULGE Vice –Chairman, Comrade John Osabuohien described the intervention of the state governor as timely and he pappealed to the state government to assist the acting chairman in the payment of two months salaries owed the council workers by the suspended chairman.

The NULGE members pledged their preparedness to co-operate with the acting chairman to succeed.
Edo State Governor , Comrade Adams Oshiomhole last week suspended the Oredo Council Chairman, Deacon Mike Ehima form office for two months following allegations of financial impropriety and other allegations leveled against him by the councilors of the council.