News

Benue Gov Sacks 12,000 Civil Servants, Gives Reason

Published

2 years ago

June 12, 2023

The Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has explained that his administration resolved to cancel the employment of over 12,000 civil servants recruited by the last administration and also reverted all promotions to the rank of Permanent Secretary because the entire exercise which lacked due process was full of irregularities and was also lopsided.

The Governor who made the clarification on Monday during his Democracy Day broadcast to the people of the state, insisted that the last administration failed to take cognizance of the State Character Principle during the processes assuring that his administration was out to right perceived wrongs and not on a witch hunt mission.

It would be recalled that the administration had in a recent press statement cancelled all employments made by the last administration from May 2022 and also nullified all promotions to the rank of Permanent Secretary effected by that administration from January 2023.

Governor Alia, during his broadcast hinted that it was important to brief the people of the state on some of the key decisions his administration took in the last two weeks.

He said: “On the issue of recruitments/appointments, we noted that it was full of irregularities. Specifically; the Civil Service Secretariat through the out-gone administration recruited 2,194 persons.

“The State Universal Basic Education, SUBEB, employed 3,028 against the approved number of 2,500 only; while Replacements made were over 5,000.

“Teaching Service Board, TSB, employed 2,500 that is, for Grant-in-Aid Schools, four in number, 120 Teachers. Replacements were 2,484. In the entire exercise, due process was not adopted.

“In addition, the employment was lopsided in favour of few Local Government Areas, LGAs, and did not take the principle of State Character into consideration; also, no budgetary provision was made to cater for the recruitments just as there was no advertisement in any media as required by the provisions of the rules guiding the Service on the matter; and no Interviews were conducted to determine suitability or otherwise of candidates. Above all, the Solicitor-General of the State was not involved at any stage of the recruitment process.

“Also the appointment of persons to the post of Permanent Secretaries from January, 2023 to May, 2023 was reversed because the appointments were politically motivated, the due process required was not observed.

“The eventual postings of the appointed Permanent Secretaries were mainly for cover up. In making the appointments, the State Character Principle was not observed.

“In view of all the above, the hard decisions we are taking are for the common good. We have no room for witch hunt in our Government. But we will not shy away from taking those decisions that may look harsh but have become the foundations on which to build the peaceful and prosperous Benue of our dreams.”

While suing for patience and understanding over backlog of unpaid salaries, pensions and gratuity, the Governor promised that by June 25, 2023 civil servants would start receiving their payments.

He said: “We see our mandate as an opportunity to right the wrongs, to rekindle hope in the electorate that a better Benue is possible and indeed at hand.

“In other ways, we will always count on your prayers, co-operation and support to succeed. We assure you that we are not a Government for any particular Party, any ethnic group or any religion. As a matter of fact, we are not only for Benue indigenes. We see all legitimate Benue residents as our people and would always treat them fairly, with respect and decorum.”

News

Okpebholo Fires EDOGIS Managing Director

Published

1 hour ago

November 27, 2025

Editor

Managing Director of the Edo State Geographic Information Service (EDOGIS), Dr. Tony Ikpasajah has been sacked.

Ikpasajah was reportedly sacked over issues relating to revocation of a 13, 545 hectares of land belonging to Presco Plc in Ologbo, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state.

Government sources said the Governor was embarrassed that he was not properly briefed about the issues.

The source, who confirmed the sack, said Ikpasajah has been issued an official letter relieving him of his appointment.

On Wednesday, Edo State Government, in an advertorial invoked sections Sections 28 and 38 of the Constitution to revoke the Presco land.

Barely 24 hours later, Secretary to the Edo State Government, Musa Ikhilor, said Ikpasajah acted unilaterally, without authorisation, and in complete disregard for established procedures and the actual number of hectares intended for excision from PRESCO PLC’s total landholding.

The statement said a formal administrative review has been initiated to address the unauthorised actions of the former EDOGIS Managing Director and to strengthen internal controls to prevent future breaches.

News

Edo Govt, PDP Biker Over PRESCO’s Statutory Right Of Occupancy

Published

1 hour ago

November 27, 2025

Editor

The Edo State Government and the main opposition—Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday engaged in verbal war over PRESCO PLC’s Statutory Right of Occupancy, a parcel of land Governor Monday Okpebholo purported revoked and later reversed within 24 hours.

In an advertorial (public notice) published by two national dailies on Wednesday, 26th November, 2025, and signed by Governor Okpebholo with the titled: ‘Revocation of Statutory Rights of Occupancy Pursuant to Sections 28 and 38,’ the Edo State Government announced the revocation of a parcel of land belonging PRESCO PLC in Ologbo, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state.

But in a swift backtrack on Thursday, 27th November, 2025, the Edo State Government in another advertorial published by the same national dailies, and signed by Umar Ikhilor, Secretary to the State Government with the title: ‘Disclaimer on Public Notice Purportedly Revoking Statutory Rights of Occupancy of PRESCO PLC,’ the state government distanced itself from the public notice (advertorial).

Ikhilor, who said the publication did not “emanate from the Executive Governor of Edo State nor from any authorised organ of the state government, added: “The government has verified that the immediate past Managing Director of Edo State Geographic Information Service (EDOGIS), acted unilaterally, without authorisation, and in complete disregard for established procedures and the actual numbers of hectares intended for excision from PRESCO PLC’s landholding.” As at when the first public notice was published, The EDOGIS MD was still an appointee of Governor Okpebholo.

Reacting to the development in a statement, State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Daniel Osa-Ogbegie, described the revocation and counter-revocation, as shameful.

The State Publicity Secretary who said “Edo people are witnessing a government that does not know what it signs,” stressed “it does not understand what it announces, and cannot defend what it authorises.”

He added: “This, apparently, is not governance.It is a circus. A dangerous circus.”

Osa-Ogbegie, while noting that “PRESCO PLC is not just a company; it is the single largest agro-industrial investment in Edo State, a 34-year pillar employing thousands directly and indirectly,” said: “Edo people deserve honest answers. Instead, they got a contradictory drama that exposes the hollowness of this administration.”

Reacting to PDP’s statement, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, who described the PDP as crying than the bereaved.

Afegbua, while stating that “the release by the Secretary to the Edo State Government that captured the essential details of the Government’s position should suffice, especially the Constitutional dimensions,” however admitted that there was an initial mix-up.

He said: “There were initial mix-up on the issue under discourse, but the explanation by the Secretary to the State Governor, gave a constitutional rationale for the position taken by government concerning land in oil minerals areas and one had thought, that was self-explanatory to any reasonable and rational mind, but because comedians must always trivialise scenarios, the PDP will never disappoint in their vainglory.”

News

Edo: Foundation Puts Smile On Less Privileged Faces, Gives 100 Free Medical Surgery

Published

4 hours ago

November 27, 2025

Editor

Not less than a hundred less privileged patients on Wednesday in Benin benefited from a free medical surgery carried out by Dr. Paddy Emmanuel Foundation.

The surgical operations were carried out on ailments ranging from Fibroids, Hernia, Liponia breast lump and others.

Speaking, the founder and Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, said since the commencement of the free medical outreach in 2014, over 3000 persons have benefited in Edo and Delta.

Paddy, who said the programme was driven purely by compassion and not political motives, added: “Life is all about what you can give back to the people because you came with nothing and you go back with nothing. I have been giving back to society in the past 10 years to impact the people”, he said.

He stressed that many of the beneficiaries could not have afforded the cost of treatment on their own.

“This gesture is outside politics. We started as far back as 2014 and we have been doing it every year. Some persons who come for treatment tell you they have not had food to eat, not to talk of getting money, which sometimes runs into millions, to give to the doctor.

“The experience in the last 10 years has been fulfilling and impactful. I am happy to see burdens lifted off people.

“Life is vanity and when you are gone, you will be remembered for what you have done. I hope to continue till Jesus calls me.”

Director General of the foundation, Mr. Zion Oshiobugie, explained that while the first nine editions of the medical outreach were held in Delta State, the 10th edition marks the first time Edo residents were benefitting from the initiative.

Oshiobugie noted that the annual programme is fully funded by the founder, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, who dedicates his birthday every year to providing life-changing healthcare for indigent citizens.

According to him, “What he does is to mark his birthday on the 30th of November every year with the free surgeries which have benefitted 3,000 persons. He wants humanity to benefit from his birthday instead of just partying.

“So this programme, which takes place for one week every year, is borne out of love for humanity, which is in line with the motto of our foundation, ” Touching Lives”

“Every year, we partner with our surgeon, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu, who brings his team from Lagos. He has been one of our partners and he is a respected member of the Nigeria Medical Association.”

Partners and team lead of the medical personnel from Lagos, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu, expressed his commitment to the outreach, disclosing his personal calling to give back after surviving a ghastly motor accident years ago.

“I am here with 24 members of my team from Lagos. We perform fibroid surgeries which have allowed women to have their own children. We also perform hernia, lipoma, breast lump and other surgeries.

“Last week, we got a text that one of the women we operated on in 2020 now has three kids. That means this intervention is creating relief for our people.

“The focus is on the less privileged because when you do this, you give it to God. Each year we come back, people give testimonies of the good things that have happened to them.”

A 19-year-old Nelson Ehigie who benefited from the free medical operation, thanked the foundation for the free surgery.

“I’m very grateful to Dr. Paddy Foundation. My parents couldn’t afford the cost so we had to come here for the surgery. God bless Dr. Iyamu,” he said.