Obaseki Courts Trouble Sacking 513 Sports Staff
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – Massive protests disrupted activities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium and adjoining streets on Wednesday as Governor Godwin Obaseki sacked 513 workers of the Edo State Sports Council effective March 21, 2022.
The list of distraught staff, relieved of their jobs in a memo dated March 4, 2022, comprises those in the junior, senior, and management categories.
According to the memo, the development is part of the government’s transition plan from the now-defunct Edo State Sports Council to the Edo State Sports Commission, adding that the affected staff would be paid their one month salary in lieu of notice immediately, while their pension payment would commence in April 2022.
The memo titled; “Transition Plan for Staff of Edo State Sports Council to Edo State Sports Commission” said; “Following the assessment for the establishment of the Edo State Sports Commission, we have completed the assessment of staff of the defunct Sports Council, who possess the requisite skills sets to transit to the new Sports Commission.
“In the foregoing, we have carefully reviewed the organisation structure for the new Sports Commission and assessed the existing staff of the defunct Council against the required competencies required to operate in the Commission.”
Some of the affected workers including athletes, coaches, and administrative staff expressed shock at the unfortunate circular disengaging from the Edo Civil Service as well as the directives that they reapply as casual staff.
Reacting to the development, a former Paralympian, who was seen among the protesters, Patience Igbiti, said; “I have been here for over 20 years as permanent staff, and all of a sudden you disengage me. Within this period, I have rejected jobs abroad to train people for my state, where do you now want me to start from?”
Also, a visually-impaired athlete affected by the sack notice, Friday Aibangbe, said; “I believe that the Governor did not consider us at all. We worked for him; voted for him and fought for him, now he has disappointed us.
“You sacked the cripple, you sacked the able-bodied, you sacked the blind. Look at somebody like me, where does the governor want me to go to? Do I go and start begging for money? They should have a human face. It is very sad, it is very painful.”
However, moving to engage the aggrieved workers and athletes on the way forward, Chairman of the State Sports Commission, Yusuf Ali, promised to take their complaints to the government for an amicable resolution.
Alli, a former Team Nigeria Captain, and national long jump record holder said: “I wouldn’t have wanted this to be how we met for the first time. I am a former athlete myself and you know me very well.
“I have always fought for the welfare of athletes; that is why I am here to see how we can solve this. I need suggestions from you so I can take something back to the government.”
