Edo compels council heads to go on 30-day leave as part of local government reform. Commission aims to enhance transparency and administrative efficiency.
Edo compels council heads to go on leave as the state intensifies reforms in local government administration.
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The Edo State Local Government Service Commission has directed all Heads of Local Government Administration (HOLGAs) across the 18 councils to proceed on compulsory 30-working-day leave, effective immediately.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Chairman of the Commission, Hon. Kabiru Adjoto, during a press briefing following a tour of all local government areas.
Adjoto, who was flanked by commission members, said the decision was necessary to pave the way for a comprehensive assessment of administrative structures and processes at the grassroots level.
While the HOLGAs are on leave, their roles will be temporarily filled by the **Directors of Administrative and General Services in their respective councils, who are expected to handle all day-to-day affairs.
“This measure has become very necessary to allow for a thorough assessment for improved administrative operation at the local government level,” Adjoto stated.
He noted that the action was also in response to public feedback and is part of the Commission’s broader reform agenda aimed at restoring transparency, improving record management, and rebuilding trust in the system.
As part of an ongoing digitalisation exercise, Adjoto revealed that the commission had discovered 382 shadow files and 132 retired files — a finding he described as troubling and indicative of the need for systemic overhaul.
He stressed that the leave directive was not punitive, but rather a necessary step to introduce a “fresh administrative perspective” and realign staffing and deployment processes across councils.
“The Commission’s task is to reposition the local government workforce to ensure the dividends of democracy reach the grassroots,” Adjoto explained, urging the affected officials to comply without delay and ensure proper handover.
This directive comes just months after Governor Monday Okpebholo appointed Adjoto as Chairman of the Commission in August, with a mandate to retool local government operations and prioritise staff welfare.
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The Commission confirmed that further directives will follow at the end of the leave period, depending on the outcomes of ongoing assessments.
