Eben Enasco Reporting.
The Edo State Government has ordered Heads of Local Government Administration HoLGAs, across the 18 Local Government Areas to proceed on compulsory leave, effective immediately.
The Chairman of the Edo State Local Government Service Commission, Adjoto Kabiru, announced this decision while speaking with journalists in Benin City, citing the need to revamp local government administration in the state.
According to Kabiru, the move aligns with Governor Monday Okpebholo’s Shine Agenda and is aimed at ensuring efficient governance.
The compulsory leave is intended to prevent undue interference, and the Director of Administrative and General Services has been ordered to take over the day-to-day administration of each local government pending further directives.
The Akoko-Edo HoLGA and its Director of Finance DEFA, have been placed on compulsory leave and interdiction following an alleged petition against them.
Kabiru emphasized that all concerned officers must hand over properly and comply with the directive without delay.
The Commission is also embarking on the digitization of its operations and plans to provide training and retraining for local government staff.
The Director of Budget Planning, Research and Statistics, Osazee Obaizamomwan, noted that the digitization effort has already yielded results, with 382 shadow files recovered and 138 retired files still being processed.