*Civil Service Leadership Does Not Condone Indiscipline, Says HoS
BY GODWIN IJEDIOGOR
THE suspension of the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Omoun Perekebena Perez, by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has continued to generate ripples in the state, especially among fellow cabinet members and civil servants.
Oborevwori axed Perez over alleged infractions related to the management of the scheme and the outcome of the review of the implementation of the Greenhouse project by his ministry.
The governor constituted a seven-man committee, chaired by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, to investigate the claims and perceived infractions.
Emu, in a statement, said consequent upon the interim report of the committee and in other to have an unimpeded access to information during the period of the investigations, the governor approved the immediate suspension, Perez.
Also affected are the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Bennett Ezon-Abode Agamah; Assistant Director in charge of Agricultural Engineering, Oki Preowei Yintareke and Chief Accountant, Gabriel Idiatacheko, who were directed to proceed on compulsory leave until further notice in line with civil service extant rules.
The statement added that government’s action was in no way a presumption of guilt, but rather a necessary measure to uphold the sanctity of the investigative processes already instituted, which is to ensure that the investigation is conducted without any potential for undue influence or bias.
Since the suspension, there has been uneasy calm within the ministry, and by extension, the civil service, as workers discussed the matter in hushed tones.
Perez has been in office just about five months, while it was gathered that Agamah has less than one year to his retirement from the state civil service.
It was gathered that the processing of the funds started in the last administration, but payment could not be secured before the end of the administration’s tenure, but was received in the early days of the Oborevwori administration.
Meanwhile, the state Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Reginald Bayoko, has stated that the leadership of the state’s civil service does not condone indiscipline; hence in support of the actions taken by the governor, which is in line with civil service rules.
Speaking in Asaba when he received the executive and members of the Asaba Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayoko recalled that the state government had maintained the culture of disciplining erring state workers internally, saying the civil service leadership had dealt with such instances on several occasions and those found culpable in the current case would face disciplinary action.
While supporting the suspension of those allegedly involved, Bayoko said the leadership of the civil service has become accustomed to handling such issues behind closed doors without prejudice or favour and would continue to do so to ensure sanity, as it would not condone any form of indiscipline from the state workforce.
Earlier, Chairman of the Chapel, Ifeanyi Olannye, lauded Bayoko for his partnership with the state workforce, which had ensured a seamless transition from the past government to the incumbent.
He also commended the leadership of the civil service for ensuring peace in the Labour unions in the state, saying such had led to stability in the state civil service.
