KEY POINTS
- Edo APC condemns Obaseki’s last-minute appointments and new wage plan.
- Outgoing governor accused of overstepping civil service protocols.
- Edo government responds, urging APC to prepare for governance.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has condemned Governor Godwin Obaseki’s recent decision to convert his former aides and personal staff into the state civil service.
According to a statement by Edo APC Chairman Jarrett Tenebe, the outgoing governor’s last-minute actions are creating significant hurdles for the incoming administration led by Governor-elect Monday Okpebholo.
The APC claims that Obaseki bypassed established civil service protocols by failing to declare vacancies and circumventing the authority of the Edo State Civil Service Commission.
Tenebe expressed concerns that Obaseki’s move to embed his loyalists within the civil service violates the governor’s oath of office and constitutes an act of “economic sabotage.”
He urged Edo citizens to recognize the potential consequences of these actions on state governance and finances.
New minimum wage adds pressure on incoming administration
The APC further criticized Obaseki for establishing a committee to implement a new minimum wage of N85,000, even though the current N70,000 wage has not been fully rolled out.
The party contends that this wage decision was designed to burden the incoming administration with additional financial commitments.
The APC’s statement also highlights alleged attempts by Obaseki to lock the new administration into wage policies that it may struggle to sustain.
This development comes amid ongoing investigations into Obaseki’s administration by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which the APC claims may reveal further misappropriations.
The party accused Obaseki of rushing incomplete project commissions in Benin City, suggesting that these were efforts to justify inflated contracts and misuse state funds.
Government responds, dismisses APC’s claims
In response, Edo’s Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, dismissed the APC’s complaints, urging the party to prepare for governance.
According to Punch, he stated that the new administration should stop “moaning” and get ready to take on its duties.
Addressing concerns about the state’s financial condition, Nehikhare assured the public that a “robust and healthy bank balance” would be available to the incoming government on November 12, five days after the scheduled transition.
The exchange between the APC and Obaseki’s administration underscores the tension surrounding the transition, with each side standing firm in their positions as the new administration prepares to take over.
