Political appointees in Osun State have been warned against corruption and abuse of office in their various Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
This warning was handed down by the state governor, Ademola Adeleke during the 2024 prayer programme of the state’s Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Tuesday in Osogbo.
Addressing party stakeholders and top officials of the state government, Governor Adeleke charged political appointees to be mindful of public service regulations.
In his words, “Let me use this opportunity to warn our party members holding various offices to be good representatives of the party.
“We are a party of law and order, due process and rule of law. We must comply with the law in all our doings.
“Appointees must know their rights and responsibilities. As board members, you are not to be involved in the day to day running of the agency.
“But as a board, you have supervisory roles on the management in line with policies you set at your board meetings and in line with laws setting up the agency. All appointees must take note of this separation of functions.
“I had earlier warned all appointees to beware of self serving posture. We are in office to serve the people. This administration will not tolerate corruption and abuse of office and powers either by appointees or management of the agencies. We will impose heavy sanctions on those who breach state laws,” Governor Adeleke told the party stakeholders.
While recalling the rot inherited from the previous government, the governor said his team devised several strategies and tactics to provide much needed solutions.
The warning is coming after the state government was forced to wade into the quarrel between the Governing Council Chairman of the Osun State College of Education, Peter Babalola and the Provost of the College, Prof Jimoh Afolabi.
Babalola, who suspended the College Provost, had accused him of maladministration, while Afolabi had alleged that the Chairman of the Governing Council was meddling into the running of the College.
The state government has since appointed a three-man committee to look into the disagreement and proffer a solution.