Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu has warned Permanent Secretaries in the state that they will be held responsible for any missing government property after November 11 if they allow the current political appointees to loot government property when leaving office.
He therefore warned them to be vigilant as the tenure of Governor Godwin Obaseki ends in November.
In a statement signed by him, Shaibu said all eyes should be on all Commissioners, Special Advisers, the Chief of Staff and other appointees as they are preparing to handover.
” As our administration ends in a few weeks, I have issued a stern warning to Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to guard against the looting of government properties by political appointees, as they would be held accountable by the incoming administration for any assets missing under their watch.
The Permanent Secretaries and Directors must know that it is their responsibility to protect the properties because these political aides (Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff, Commissioners, Special Advisers/Assistants, and Senior Special Advisers/Assistants) are government appointees who are also leaving on November 11.
So, the failure of Permanent Secretaries and heads of these MDAs to act means they will be held responsible for giving an account of their inventories. Removing fixed items and government properties is a crime and unacceptable,” the statement stated.
He added: “Permanent Secretaries and heads of MDAs should, therefore, guard against such criminality or face consequences. All political appointees must equally desist from such actions, which may land them in trouble.”
