Delta State Head of Service (HoS), Mr Reginald Bayoko, on Friday, stated that he was privy to the suspension of the state Commissioner for Agriculture and the directive for the Permanent Secretary and two others to proceed on compulsory leave over financial impropriety.
Reacting to reports in some sections of the media suggesting that his office was not aware of the suspension, Bayoko said during a dialogue with journalists that though the story of the alleged infraction became public through the press before formal acknowledgement by the authorities, the subsequent government actions, particularly, the suspension and the directive for compulsory leave to the officers were indeed communicated internally.
He had earlier received the executive members of Asaba correspondents chapel of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) where comments were made about the suspended Commissioner and the other two management staff asked to proceed on compulsory leave.
A statement issued on Friday by the Public Relations Officer, Office of the Head of Service, Mr Ivovi Aruoriwo, noted that the report by some sections of the media was rather suggestive that the State Civil Service leadership was not aware of the suspension and directives until it was reported by the press.
The statement reads in part, “the Office of the Delta State Head of Service wishes to address certain inaccuracies and misinterpretations that have arisen from recent reports in sections of the print media.
“These reports erroneously quoted Mr Reginald Bayoko, the Delta State Head of Service, as suggesting a misalignment in the communication process regarding the suspension of the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, alongside the directive for the Permanent Secretary and two staff members of the Ministry to proceed on compulsory leave.
“It has come to our attention that the portrayal of Mr Bayoko’s statements has been both misleading and not reflective of the truth, especially following his interaction with the members of Journalists in Asaba on Wednesday.
“For the sake of clarity and to eliminate any ambiguity, the Office of the Head of Service wishes to state that Mr Bayoko, in his dialogue with the journalists, articulated that while the story of the alleged infraction became public through the press before formal acknowledgement by the authorities;
“The subsequent government actions, namely, the suspension and the directive for compulsory leave, were indeed communicated internally within the government corridors to the Head of Service full knowledge before being made public.
“The assertion that the actions taken by the government, under the guidance of the Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, were known to the Head of Service through media channels before any official communication is therefore unequivocally false.
“To reiterate, Mr Bayoko was fully informed of the developments and the necessary administrative steps being taken in response to the situation at hand.
“We hope this statement serves to clarify the sequence of events and reaffirm the integrity of the communication process within the Delta State government.
“The Office of the Head of Service remains committed to transparency, accuracy, and the maintenance of high standards of communication with the public and the media.
“We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of all parties as we continue to uphold the values of responsible governance and public service.”