By Mumini AbdulKareem
The Kwara State Government has reportedly sacked the Local Government Director of Personnel Management (DPMs) and treasurers across the state.
Subsequently, the government has posted new set of officials to replace the affected ones who have since been recommended for suspension by the state House of Assembly.
The House in its resolution during one its plenary recently called for the suspension of the DPMs and treasurers, adding that suspending the council chairmen alone without the former will not allow for thorough investigation into the allegation of fraud leveled against them.
But following pleas from high quarters in the state that some of the affected DPMs and treasurers will be retiring in about a month or two, the Governor initially failed to act on the House resolution.
However, feelers emerged last night that the principal council officers have been sacked and new officials posted to replace them.
The list of the new postings was sighted by this reporter, last night.
Confirming the development, one of the affected officials said they have been systematically eased out of office by compelling them to go on accumulated leave.
“We have been dropped and new ones have been appointed. We were told to proceed on accumulated leave that we have not observed since 2017 and 2018 while some people were appointed in the interim.
“But it is a technical way of dropping us because some of us are retiring in a month or two and some already presumed they have retired. We were all affected across the 16 local governments”, he added.
When contacted, a top government official who does not want his name in print requested all enquires on the issue to be directed to the House of Assembly.
The Chairman of the House committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Abdulgafar Ayinla Ayilara who is in-charge of the issue in the legislature told this reporter that he was in a meeting on Wednesday when his response was sought and promised to get back.
He was however yet to do so before this paper went to bed, last night.
