5th January, 2013
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Nigeria’s Edo state has ordered the immediate retirement of Mr Alhassan Ikeloa, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Public Utilities, for alleged dereliction of duty. He was the second permanent secretary to be sacked by the governor since October 2012.
The governor announced Ikeloa’s retirement in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Julius Ihonvbre, on Saturday in Benin.
The statement said that the sack order followed the governor’s on-the-spot inspection of some parts of the Benin metropolis on Friday. The places he visited included the National Museum on Oba Ovoramwen Square, where he lamented the filthy nature of the area.
The statement stated that the governor was visibly angry over the heaps of refuse at the museum and surrounding areas and traced the problem to the Permanent Secretary’s dereliction of duty.
According quoted Oshiomhole as saying that the board of the state Civil Service would be informed of Ikelao’s retirement for ratification.
Ikeloa will be the second permanent secretary to be peremptorily sacked by Governor Oshiomhole.
Last October, he also sacked the permanent secretary for the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Caro Edo-Osagie for dereliction of duty.
The governor also ordered the seizure of wares displayed by traders along walk-ways on the newly constructed Oba Market roads, the statement added. Oshiomhole, who ordered the towing of vehicles impounded by the police, warned the Divisional Police Officer of the station in the area to desist from parking such vehicles along the road.