...threatens to halt pension of culpable retirees

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his government will probe the mismanagement of the state’s water corporation, noting that all those found culpable will be prosecuted accordingly.

Obaseki said this when he inspected the building and equipment of the corporation at Sapele Road in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

The governor was accompanied by the Commissioner for Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development, Isoken Omo and other top government functionaries.

Obaseki said his administration will set up a probe panel to investigate and ensure the prosecution of all those who mismanaged government assets and resources at the corporation.

Expressing displeasure over the gross mismanagement, Obaseki threatened to prosecute and stop the pension benefits of any retiree involved in the mismanagement.

He said, “I will set up a probe panel to investigate, try and prosecute all those suspected to have contributed to the waste we see here today. I will suspend the pension benefits of those found wanting. They will all come and account for all the assets of the water board.

“People must be held accountable for this waste. You can't treat government assets this way. These are millions of dollars of government assets left to waste and nobody should be held accountable? No, not under my watch.”