Workers’ Discipline Inseparable from Civil Service, Says Delta HoS

.Charges journalists to be ‘agents of positive change’

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Delta State Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Reginald Bayoko, has said that the culture of disciplining erring workers has been an integral part of day-to-day operations of the Delta State Civil Service, noting that such has often been conducted internally and without recourse to the media.

He was reacting to the Delta Government’s decision to send some principal officers on compulsory leave while ordering the suspension of the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Perez Omoun, consequent upon an allegation of financial impropriety in the Agriculture Ministry.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, three days ago approved the immediate suspension of the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Omoun and the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ben Agamah, while two other principal officers were to “proceed on compulsory leave” following the alleged payment of about N280 million from a state agricultural project into a private bank account.

Bayoko made the remarks while fielding questions from officers and  members of the Asaba Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by its Chairman, Comrade Ifeanyi Olannye, who visited him in his office in Asaba.

It would be recalled that Governor Oborevwori on Monday, directed for the suspension of Omoun, Agamah, while two other principal officers were to “proceed on compulsory leave” following an allegation of financial impropriety in the agriculture ministry.

According to a statement by the Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu,the action is not presumptuous but rather a precautionary measure meant to allow for unhindered investigation into the alleged diversion of funds meant for a greenhouse agricultural project in the state.

The SSG will also chair a seven-man committee approved by Governor Oborevwori to investigate the alleged financial impropriety.

Bayoko stressed that the leadership of the State Civil Service will not relent its responsibility to mete out disciplinary actions against civil servants found culpable in sharp practices, in order to maintain sanity in the system.

He said that what happened to workers at the ministry of agriculture was not the first to be handled by the state government, adding that the civil service leadership would not condone any form of indiscipline from the state workforce.

Bayoko said, “This (suspension order) is nothing new; such situation has always been there. The difference in this case is that it was placed on the media space before it got to the Civil Service leadership. Then, the commissioner is a political appointee.

“We have dealt with such instances on several occasions, and those involved faced appropriate disciplinary action.”

While commending the prompt decision of the governor, the HoS said that the state civil service has become accustomed to handling such issues behind closed doors without prejudice or favour.

Nevertheless, he underscored the fact that society relied greatly on traditional journalists not only for accurate information on a vast range of issues, but as well expects the journalist to hold the government and various leaders to be accountable.

Bayoko, therefore, charged practitioners in the country to adhere strictly to the ethics of the journalistic profession, regarding truth and fairness, so as to remain agents of positive change and development in the society.

On ‘petrol subsidy removal, the HoS said that the Delta State Government would continue to explore ways and means of cushioning the adverse effects particularly on civil servants in the state.

Oborevwori has been in the forefront in addressing issues bordering on workers’ welfare, including ensuring prompt payment of salaries and outstanding arrears as well as prompt promotion of workers, adding that journalists remain a dependable partner in harnessing the M.O.R.E. Agenda of the Oborevwori administration.

Earlier, the Chairman, Asaba Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Ifeanyi Olannye, lauded the Head of Service for his partnership with the state workforce such that Delta witnessed “a seamless transition from the immediate past government of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to that of the incumbent, Governor Oborevwori.”

While commending the government on efforts to mitigate the manifold harsh effects of oil subsidy removal, Olannye lauded the leadership of the civil service for ensuring peace among the organized Labour in the state, adding that sustained peace with workers’ union has obviously engendered stability in the state civil service.