Aside the battle of supremacy within the All Progressives Congress, APC enclave in Edo State between Adams Oshiomhole, the party national chairman and governor Godwin Obaseki, concerns are being raised from different quarters across Nigeria over the growing number of aides in the Obaseki’s government.
These concerns stem from the status of the state as the poorest in the Niger Delta and the inability of successive governments to elevate the States economic bearings to a fairly self sustaining status.
“What is he doing with these aides. Edo State does not have money to cater for all these aides that are not adding values to governance. Federal government is trying ti implement Orosanye’s report to reduce its over bloated staff but Obaseki is doing otherwise,” Osadolor Ogbemudia, an economist told OpenLife in an exclusive interview.
Information has it that in March, Obaseki appointed 40 SSA’s and PA’s. Before then, he had appointed192 PA’s from each of the 192 wards in Edo State and additional 54 SSA’s employed with an undisclosed metrics.
At the moment, Obaseki’s 686 SSA’S & PA’S, appears to be the highest for any office holder in the world.
However, this is happening at a time almost all Edo schools are understaffed.
For example, Arue Secondary School in Esan North East Local Government Area currently has only three teachers while Igueben Model School has no teacher except a Principal and six students teachers.
This is said to be the situation all over schools in Edo State.
Request, seeking clarification, sent to Andrew Emwanta, the senior special adviser, public affairs to the governor was not answered as of the time of filling this report.
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