Displaced Edo Workers Appeal to Okpebholo for Restoration of Their Jobs

Displaced workers from the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS), the Nigerian Observer, and other state parastatals have called on Senator Monday Okpebholo to address the redundancy and displacement they have suffered under the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The workers hope that Okpebholo, if elected as governor, will restore their roles and resolve the issues they have faced.

The concerned workers stated that between 2020 and 2022, Governor Obaseki ordered a mass redeployment of staff from their original agencies to various ministries without adhering to established State Civil Service rules.

This, they claim, resulted in immediate redundancy, as many employees were left without meaningful roles in their new placements.

According to the workers, the redeployments were part of a strategy to introduce external consultants, many of whom were brought in from Lagos and other regions. These consultants were paid higher wages than what was traditionally offered by the state, yet lacked the necessary skills and experience.

The workers argue that this led to a decline in the efficiency of the affected agencies, while they themselves faced stagnation in their careers, lack of office space, and poor working conditions despite renovations to the state secretariat.

“The consultants were placed on special salaries and allowances despite delivering subpar work,” the workers said. “Meanwhile, we were left with no promotions, no office space, and demoralizing work conditions.”

Tensions within the workforce were exacerbated when junior staff members, with less experience, were promoted above their senior colleagues, resulting in further demoralisation.

Focusing on EBS and the Nigerian Observer, the workers highlighted the hiring of non-indigenous staff on higher levels while local Edo indigenes were contracted on a temporary basis, which they argue violates civil and public service rules.

Despite submitting petitions and holding meetings with State officials, the workers reported that their grievances were ignored. They pointed to the influence of Crusoe Osagie, Governor Obaseki’s Special Adviser on Media Strategy, as a key factor in the mismanagement of EBS and the Nigerian Observer, side-lining the State’s Commissioner for Communication and Orientation in the process.

Adding to their grievances is the unfulfilled promise of a N70,000 minimum wage adjustment, announced by Governor Obaseki on May 1, 2024. Despite federal approval for the adjustment, the workers claim the governor has yet to implement the increase, leaving many feeling deceived.

As a result of these on-going issues, the displaced workers have resolved to vote against the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, accusing him of being complicit in the decisions that led to their predicament.

The workers expressed hope that Senator Okpebholo, who they describe as more compassionate and humane than his PDP counterpart, will restore their positions and address their concerns if he is elected as the next governor of Edo State.