EDO:
Mgt, Staff, Of Edo State Urban Water Cooperation, Kick Against Imposition Of A Junior Officer As MD
By: Oriaifoh Godwins
The Members of staff, and Management of Edo state Urban Water Cooperation, has written to the governor of Edo state, His Excellency, Governor Monday Okpebholo, to express their worries over the appointment of Mrs. Toyin Rose Adegboyega, a junior officer, as the Acting Managing Director, of the corporation, to head Senior officers that posses several years of experience in the corporation.
Mrs. Toyin Rose Adegboyega
In their letter to the governor, dated; 3rd December, 2024, titled; "Request to Correct the Injustice in the Appointment of Mrs. Toyin Rose Adegboyega as the Acting Managing Director of Edo State Urban Water Corporation", and signed by Dr. S. O Ogadu, the Director of Shared Services, Mr. W. Edokpayi, Director of Planning and Projects, Engr. D. O. Ebakata, Director of Operations and Comrade Israel Osilukpon, the Chairman, Workers Union, they maintained that, the matter regarding the Imposition of Mrs. Adegboyega on the corporation, is of significant concern to the staff and management of the Corporation and requires urgent intervention to ensure adherence to civil service regulations.
..they urged that the position of Acting Managing Director of Edo state Urban Water Cooperation, be filled in a manner that is fair, just, and in line with established Civil Service procedures, saying, the prompt attention and intervention of Governor Monday Okpebholo in the matter, will restore confidence in the management of the Corporation and also uphold the integrity of the civil service in Edo State...
According to them, In 2020, the previous administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki published an advert for the position of the Managing Director/CEO of Edo State Urban Water Corporation as well as other Principal officers. In view of this, qualified persons from grade level 15 and above applied, but that process was jettisoned without reason. However, In August 2021, Mrs. Toyin Rose Adegboyega, a Grade Level 13 officer from the Ministry of Water Resources, was handpicked as the interim Acting Managing Director to preside over senior professionals who were on grade level 15.
The appointment of Mrs. Adegboyega, they said, raised lots of concerns as it contravened the civil service rules, given that there were senior Engineers with COREN Registered and senior Geologist with COMEG registered amongst other officers within the Corporation who were better qualified for the role.
This irregularity, they said, has persisted for over three years now, despite the evident breach of established civil service norms. The situation, they said, was further compounded by a recent posting for the continued appointment of Mrs. Adegboyega, who is now on Grade Level 14, as the Acting Managing Director.
Also in their letter of complaint to the governor, they stressed, on the need to bring to the notice of the governor, that there are senior civil servants within the Corporation whose qualifications, experience, and seniority makes them more appropriate candidates for the position.
Also, they mentioned their key concerns on the matter, to include; Violation of Civil Service Rules, Undermining merits and seniority, and they also posited that, the appointment of a junior officer to head senior officers, often lead to disharmony among staff, kills the moral of staff impetus to work, stops abruptly the hierarchical growth of the senior staff who aspires to head the organization, and causes psychological trauma to members of staff.
In view of the above, they urged that the position of Acting Managing Director of Edo state Urban Water Cooperation, be filled in a manner that is fair, just, and in line with established Civil Service procedures, saying, the prompt attention and intervention of Governor Monday Okpebholo in the matter, will restore confidence in the management of the Corporation and also uphold the integrity of the civil service in Edo State.