The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has established a five-man Commission of Inquiry with a charge to investigate alleged financial misappropriations in the state’s three Colleges of Education and its College of Agriculture in the last 10 years.
Speaking during the inauguration of the commission headed by former Head of Service (HOS) in the state, Mrs Gladys Idahor, in Government House, Benin City, the governor urged members of the commission to probe what transpired in the colleges and how the institutions crumbled under the watch of those who they were entrusted with.
The institutions to be investigated are the colleges of education in Ekiadolor and Igueben; Micheal Imoudu College of Physical Education, Afuze, and the College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi.
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The governor said, “This commission of inquiry became necessary because the state government discovered huge outstanding emoluments due to members of staff of the institutions.
“I charge you to expose anyone that has taken any action or decision that has criminal implications as I assure you that appropriate action will be taken. I assure you that your findings will be implemented within the next 90 days after the submission of your report.”
Obaseki said the terms of reference of the commission were to examine the finances of the institutions over the last 10 years and determine if they were in accordance with the laws of the institutions and the regulations guiding the public service.
The commission is also to “examine the administrative structures of the institutions in line with the laws establishing them and examine the mode of employment and promotion at the institutions with a view to determining if due process was followed.
“My administration is determined to reposition these institutions to achieve the goals they were set up to achieve by the founding fathers.”
Responding, Idahor assured the governor that the commission would not disappoint him.
Yetunde Adegoke
