Obaseki Sacks Perm Sec Over N283m Budget Padding

• Obaseki Sacks Perm Sec Over N283m Budget Padding

The permanent secretary in the Edo State Ministry of Youth and Special Duties, Dr. (Ms) Osayuware Idahosa yesterday lost her job over alleged padding of the budget for the conduct of primary school examination to the tune of N283 million.

Three other civil servants were sent on suspension for their alleged role in the scam.

Governor Godwin Obaseki who handed down the punishment also ordered an investigation into the schools’ delisting accounts in the state.

The decision was arrived at an extraordinary meeting of the State Executive Committee.

Dr. Idahosa, who served as Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Education at the time the alleged fraud was committed, was referred to the State Civil Service Commission for appropriate action, in line with the rules and guidelines of the service.

Others involved in the alleged fraud are: Barr. S. A. Erhunmwunse Edokpayi, Mrs. E.I. Ero-Ugiagbe and Mr. Lucky Adagbonyin.

The EXCO resolved that they should proceed on indefinite suspension without pay and their case forwarded to the State Civil Service Commission for appropriate actions according to the rules and guidelines of the service.

Communication and Orientation Commissioner Paul Ohonbamu told reporters at the end of the meeting that that the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe, submitted a report on the panel of enquiry on the conduct of the 2016/2017 Primary School Leaving Certificate Examination.

He said the State Executive Council similarly set up a committee headed by Employment and Wealth Creation Commissioner Emmanuel Usoh to investigate the removal of about 350 private schools from the list of eligible schools to participate in the Primary School Leaving Certificate Examination and also the conditions that led to the relisting of these schools shortly after they were delisted.