Monday Okpebholo, the governor of Edo State, has fired employees of Bendel Newspapers Corporation Limited (BNCL), the company that publishes the state-owned Nigerian Observer.
The people were hired by the state’s immediate past Governor, Godwin Obaseki, as part of a reorganization of state-owned media parastatals to ensure effective productivity and widespread distribution of information to the public.
During the period, all of the organization’s employees were deployed to other ministries, departments, and agencies, with the exception of one information technology staff member, and all casual employees were relieved of their positions.
The previous governor leased out the establishment’s printing department.
According to reports, the section’s employees have gone on strike since they have not been paid for roughly three months.
In lieu of the terminated employees, the state government nominated Mr. Sylvester Oboh as temporary head to handle the corporation’s day-to-day operations.
According to Dr. Desmond Agbama, Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Communication and Orientation, the appointment of the temporary head resulted from Governor Monday Okpebholo’s dissolution of the establishment’s political appointments.
The permanent secretary of the ministry sent Mr Sylvester Oboh a letter headed “Assumption of Office as Interim Head of Bendel Newspapers Corporation,” dated November 18, 2024.
According to the letter, Sylvester Oboh’s position remains in effect until a substantive general manager is appointed.
The Permanent Secretary wrote:
“I am directed to refer to the above subject and to inform you to resume the Headship of the Bendel Newspapers Corporation, publishers of the Nigerian Observer, pending the appointment of a substantive General Manager.
“This became necessary following the dissolution of the political appointees of the establishment by Governor Monday Okpebholo.
“You all are aware that there is no vacuum in governance and public administration, and for that reason, everyone is expected to go back to their offices and work for the collective good of the establishment and progress of governance in terms of information dissemination.
“All modalities will be considered and properly articulated towards ensuring that you have all that is necessary for efficient service delivery, including additional hands where there are perceived gaps,” he added.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
