Delta Assembly Orders Local Government Service Commission To Reinstate Sacked LG Treasurer

The Delta State House of Assembly has directed the State Local Government Service Commission to immediately reverse itself and reappoint one Mr. Ayama-Owei Apare as Treasurer Local Government for the Patani Local Government Area’s slot.

The House at its Tuesday’s plenary, presided over by the Speaker, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori warned  the Commission to, henceforth, desist from flouting the Rules in making appointments.

The directive and warning were contained in an 18 paged report presented at plenary by the House Committee on Public Petitions that investigated the alleged misapplication of the State Governor’s directive that each of the 25 Local Government Areas in the State should have one Treasurer to the Local Government (TLG) and one Head of Personnel Management (HPM), in line with the federal character policy.

The House enjoined the Commission to ensure that it reversed itself with immediate effect, even as it directed its committee on Legislative Compliance, headed by the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Ochor Christopher Ochor to follow up the directive.

The resolutions followed a motion by the House Majority Leader, Hon. Tim Owhefere and unanimously adopted through voice vote by the members.

The Speaker, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori commended the Public Petitions Committee headed by the Chief Whip of the House, Hon Pat Ajudua for a detailed report and urged the committee on legislative compliance to ensure that the Commission adhered Strictly to the directive.

The House had on Thursday, 16th January 2020, received a petition from one Mr. Apare Ayama-Owei of the Finance and Supply Department, Unified Local Government Service, Delta State over alleged misapplication of the rules.

In the petition, the petitioner complained against his illegal removal as the substantive treasurer for the Patani Local Government Area slot and the appointment of Mr. B. O Etakebo in his place by the Delta State Local Government Service Commission.

The petitioner asked the State Legislature to direct the Commission to reverse itself and reappoint him as the substantive treasurer representing Patani Local Government area.

Presenting the report of the Committee, its Chairman, Hon Pat Ajudua said her Committee do not see any hindrance in awarding the relief sought by the petitioner.

“We do not see any hindrance in awarding the petitioner relief sought particularly considering that in this report we have exhaustively discussed and justified with evidence, the validity of the petitioner’s appointment as TLG, Ajudua said.

Continuing the Lawmaker stated “We condemned in strong terms the stepping down/ removal of the petitioner as TLG by the Commission. It will be safe without wasting any time in resolving and concluding that the petitioner is not only qualified but is also entitled to the relief sought. We therefore hold that the petitioner, to the extent of the relief sought is justified and should be granted”.

Hon Ajudua thanked the House for the opportunity to serve.