• DPMs to go on suspension
Details of how Directors of Personnel Management (DPMs) in the 16 local government councils of Kwara State frustrated government’s effort on food palliatives distribution have emerged.
Just Event Online TV reports that Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, had inaugurated the Food Palliatives Committee headed by the State Commissioner of Police, Ebunoluwa Rotimi Adelesi, last month.
The committee which is co-chaired by the Emir of Shonga Dr. Haliru Yahaya comprises eminent personalities from civil society, religious groups, media, among others.
The committee flagged off its distribution recently and is moving to reach more beneficiaries at the grassroots level working with various stakeholders.
The distribution was supposed to commence today with Asa, Oke Ero and Kaiama Local Government Areas.
Our medium however gathered that the DPMs at the 16 local government councils have refused to cooperate with the committee in driving this government intervention.
A source at one of the local government councils who pleaded anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter said the DPMs frustrated the committee so that they can take charge of the palliatives distribution at the local government and ward levels.
“They have snubbed the state palliative committee. They refused to show up at meetings summoned by the committee to get their input in order to ease the exercise and make it transparent,” he said.
Our medium learnt that the committee wanted to create subcommittees at the local government and ward levels to make the distribution process seamless and transparent.
These subcommittees are to include the most senior traditional rulers, senior religious leaders, civil society organisations, representatives of the youth, students, People Living With Disabilities (PLWDs), among others.
However, the DPMs, according to our sources, failed to provide the list of these stakeholders domiciled in their areas.
“Their plan is that once they succeed in frustrating the state committee, the distribution would be handed over to them,” our source said.
Our medium can report that the people of the state are keen about the palliative distribution which they have been monitoring.
“The behaviour put up by the Local Government DPMs is bad. While the government is trying to ease the discomfort of the masses at this peculiar period, they are frustrating the effort. It seems they want to turn the public against the government. That’s their aim. I can’t come to terms with DPMs not cooperating with the palliative committee. What’s the big deal about this? They definitely have ulterior motives,” Akanni Jimoh, a middle-aged man living in Ilorin South told our reporter in reaction to the development.
Meanwhile, the DPMs have been asked to proceed on suspension immediately.
The announcement was made by the Executive Chairman, Kwara State Local Government Service Commission, Alhaji Umar Danladi Shero on Tuesday.
The suspended DPMs were directed to hand over administrative machineries in their possession to their Heads of Department of Administration.
Just Event Online TV gathered that their suspension will last till the palliatives distribution is concluded.
