Government offices in Edo State are not personalised and are often subject to change as is expedient for smooth administration of the state, a source close to Edo State Government House, has said.
He said that the official channel of communication within government was through the civil service and that the directive to the Office of the Deputy Governor, notifying them of the relocation of the office accommodation of the Deputy Governor suffices and applies to all who work from the old office.
The source noted that a letter was sent to the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Governor weeks ago by the Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, directing officials in the Office of the Deputy Governor to relocate to the new location on No, 7, Dennis Osadebe Avenue, GRA, Benin City.
According to the source, “That letter is sufficient in informing everyone working out of the Office of the Deputy Governor that they have been relocated.
“In fact, many of the workers have moved their work tools to the new site. It is, therefore, disingenuous for the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, to claim that he is not aware that the office has been relocated.”
Directive to Office of the Dep. Gov sufficient notice for relocation of office in service rules
The source, who faulted the claim by the Deputy Governor, that he was not informed of the relocation of his office, noted that the Deputy Governor cannot justify not being informed personally because the office he occupies was not personal.
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According to him, “When the governor goes, the office of the governor remains and same for the deputy governor.”
The source added, “The people he called my civil servants are not his civil servants but they are Edo State government workers working in the office of the Deputy Governor to carry out activities and assist the deputy governor in the performance of duties assigned to him by the governor as there is no constitutional role for the office of the deputy governor.
“When a letter is written to that office for relocation, it means that everything and everyone including the deputy governor, moves with them. The deputy governor cannot justify not being informed personally because the office is not personal,” he added
The source added that before the relocation, the deputy governor worked from his house and so, how can he now said he was not informed of the relocation of the office.
“The sudden defiance on his part as noticed in the preceding week, prompted the letter of September 15, 2023, which was written to the deputy governor directly and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, reiterating the directive for the relocation of his office,” he added.
