Newly appointed Special Assistants (SAs) and Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) in Edo may be relieved of their appointments if found guilty of acts of corruption, abandonment of duty posts, failure to submit reports as at when required, sabotage, and general incompetence, it emerged on Monday.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, reading out the riot act, admonished the aides to regard their appointments as opportunities to impact positively in their communities, while also acquainting them on their roles in the transformation drive of his administration.
This was at a two-day workshop organised for the recently appointed aides in Benin to brief them on the details of their appointments and their functions in the development agenda of the Godwin Obaseki-led administration.
Tasking them to live up to the confidence reposed in them, he said: “The whole idea was to address the issues of marginalisation and inequality, and with what we have done today, there is no ward in Edo State that can say that they do not have a voice in government.
Let me emphasise that while Government will do everything possible to provide an enabling environment that will enhance efficiency and productivity, this administration will not hesitate to relieve anyone whose performance is below expectation in their duties.”
He said that his administration was keen on revolutionising six key sectors in the state, including strengthening of institutions, economic revolution, culture and tourism, environmental sustainability, social welfare enhancement and infrastructure, adding that the appointees needed to key into the quest.
Governor Obaseki also said that his administration had resolved to adopt the ‘Grassroots to Top’ approach; hence, the appointees would represent the government at the grassroots level.
On their modus operandi, the governor revealed that the SAs would report to his office through his Political advisers and they would operate from the offices already created for them in the 18 local government councils in the state.
Meanwhile, the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie tasked the SSAs and SAs on discipline, accountability, and responsibility, especially at the grassroots.
