Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole sacks Permanent Secretary for dereliction of duty

The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole on Wednesday sacked Caro Edo-Osagie, the Permanent Secretary in the state's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, for dereliction of duty.

This was contained in a statement issued to journalists in Benin City by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Louis Odion.

The statement ordered the relieved permanent secretary to hand over all government property in her possession to her immediate subordinate within 24 hours, though no reason was given for the sack.

A source within the ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity, however, revealed that her sack might be connected with the death of a popular Benin-based artist, Brown Atiemwen, for whom Edo-Osagie allegedly delayed the release of the sum of N150,000.00 that was donated by the state government for the treatment of Atiemwen, a staff of her Ministry and a Nollywood actor who had been diagnosed with intestinal problems.

Atiemwen, who needed the money for surgery, unfortunately died on Sunday, a development which led to a peaceful protest on Monday by members of the Artist Guild in Edo State.

The governor of the state also announced the removal of 41 Zonal Inspectors, Chief Inspectors of Education and Local Government Education officers over non-performance and negligence of duty.

He announced the demotion of the Vice Principal of New Era College, S.E. Akhabue, from Grade Level 15 to Grade Level 14 for being a “perpetual late comer.”

In a release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Peter Okhiria, he said the governor’s decision was the outcome of a continuing performance audit in the state, adding that the administrative details of the change in the school inspectorate will be made known in the coming days.