Edo PDP takes Oshiomhole to task

Edo State chapter of the PDP has lamented a situation, in which it says only 30 per cent of the federal allocation meant for local governments in the state gets to the council, describing the situation as unacceptable and worrisome.

State chairman of the party, Dan Orbih, who stated this at a media briefing in Benin on Monday, noted that the local government system in the state has virtually collapsed due to what it described as “manipulation of funds meant for the councils”.

According to him, over N200 billion has been paid to local governments in the state from the federation account in about seven years that Governor Adams Oshiomhole has held sway as governor.

Orbih said while the state government has refused to declare the debt profile of the state, facts sourced from the Debt Management Office (DMO) reveal that the Oshiomhole’s government has accessed loan worth about N300 billion.

He also described as callous the sacking of youths employed through the Youth Employment Scheme (YES) programme without notice by the state government along with those employed early this year, advising that it was high time the state government stopped giving out fake employment anytime election was near.

He said, “The PDP in Edo State symphatises with the staff of local governments in the state and their family members. This is indeed strange times in Edo State as some of them have not collected salary in about nine months.

“The inability of the council to pay their salary is connected to the fact that the council don’t get more than 30 per cent of what belongs to them. It was no surprise that the governor used his puppets in the state assembly to prevent financial autonomy for the councils.

“It was pathetic watching the youths, some of who are graduates with masters’ degrees. They had been in the employment of the state government without proper regularization of their employment and have now been sacked. So, at best we can call them casual workers.

“Now, a government that cannot pay casual workers is suddenly talking of recruiting into the state civil service. This deceit is as pathetic as the sack of the casual workers.

“When they suddenly employed youths on a stipend of N5,000 per month in the weeks before the general election, did we not say that they were only interested in using and dumping them for the election? Has it not come to pass today?” he asked

However, while reacting to the allegation, Edo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Lucky James, described as cheap blackmail the allegation of diversion of local government fund by the Oshiomhole administration, calling on Orbih and the PDP to provide proof and evidences that the state government collected and diverted it to other sources.

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