Edo Deputy Governor Shaibu Warns Against Looting Of Public Properties

By Ayodele Oni

Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu has warned Heads of Government Agencies to guard against looting of public properties as the administration winds down.

A statement personally signed by the Deputy Governor cautioned that outgoing political office holders caught pilfering Government properties would be treated like criminals.

The statement reads “As our administration ends in a few weeks, I have issued a stern warning to Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to guard against the looting of government properties by political appointees, as they would be held accountable by the incoming administration for any assets missing under their watch.

“The Permanent Secretaries and Directors must know that it is their responsibility to protect the properties because these political aides (Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff, Commissioners, Special Advisers/Assistants, and Senior Special Advisers/Assistants) are government appointees who are also leaving on November 11.

“So, the failure of Permanent Secretaries and heads of these MDAs to act means they will be held responsible for giving an account of their inventories.

“Removing fixed items and government properties is a crime and unacceptable.

“Permanent Secretaries and heads of MDAs should, therefore, guard against such criminality or face consequences. All political appointees must equally desist from such actions, which may land them in trouble.”