Bello appoints new chairman of Workers’ Screening Committee
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
The Kogi State Government on Saturday announced the removal of retired Brig.-Gen Paul Okuntimo as the Chairman, Workers’ Screening and Verification Committee.
Alhaji Abdulkarim Abdulmalik, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja.
Abdulmalik said that Gov. Yahaya Bello also approved immediate appointment of Mr. Jerry Agbaji, the acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism as Okuntimo’s replacement.
The adviser said that Okuntimo was removed for allegedly sidelining other members of the committee.
He said that Agbaji, the new chairman, was elected by other members of the committee and the governor had so approved.
The committee upon the completion of the assignment will submit its report to the governor who will in turn set up a review committee and a white paper will be issued,’’ he said.
The adviser reiterated that the screening and verification exercise was not to witch-hunt anybody.
According to him, it was an effort to plug loopholes and stop outright embezzlement of funds meant for infrastructural development of the state.
Abdulmalik, however, said that ghost workers, workers with forged certificates and workers illegally employed into public service would have to go.
Related
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
1 Comments
Is Okuntimo really a retired Brigadier-General? Why did he agree to serve under a juvenile Governor. The retired officer should quickly study the Art of War published in 5BC by Chinese politico-military strategist Sun Tzu, to avoid more political amusements. Bello scored only 6,000 votes to become a provisional governor but embarked on dismissing 10,000 workers! Bello wants to thrive on controversies and inequalities; this is a consuming hallmark for any leader. Fortunately, he has been subdued by the State House of Assembly over his unwarranted incursion into their constitutional duties. Alhaji Bello has opened a Theatre of Conflict with the state’s workers, despite the ongoing formidable challenges to his governorship in the courts.
A pertinent question is: Where is the bail-out fund worth N20 billion? Okuntimo is certainly not the governor’s main problem. The crux of the matter in Kogi State is the continual lack of public accountability and mounting corruption within the executive arm of government. There are several odds against Bello presently. Kogi State urgently requires geo-political stability, economic advancement and re-invigoration of its security. Only a credible, pragmatic and widely accepted governor can attain these vital objectives.
We will review and take appropriate action.