Staff of the Edo State Sports Commission on Wednesday blocked roads leading to the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium to protest the sack of 513 workers by Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The sack, which was approved by the Governor, is contained in a memo dated March 4, 2022, and took effect on March 21.
The memo stated that the affected workers who are junior, senior and management staff, is part of the government transition plan from the now-defunct Edo State Sports Council to the Edo State Sports Commission.
It stated that while the affected staff would be immediately paid their one month in lieu of notice, their pension payment will commence in April 2022.
The memo titled, ‘Transition Plan for Staff of Edo State Sports Council to Edo State Sports Commission’, read: “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 posses 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.”
The aggrieved workers, comprising of athletes, coaches and administrative staff, prevented vehicular movement within the stadium area, and prevented anyone from gaining entrance into the stadium.
Some of the protesters said that they were shocked to receive a circular of their disengagement from the Edo Civil Service and were asked to reapply as casual staff.
One of the protesters, a former world powerlifting champion and now coach, Patience Igbiti, said, “I have been here for over 20 years as a permanent staff and all of a sudden you disengage me. I have rejected jobs abroad to train people for my state, where do you now want me to start from?
“The Governor has not done well and this is not the right way to do this. We have people who are retiring soon, and you sack them. I am an international figure and I am a breadwinner, do you want me to go to Ring Road and beg for alms. God forbid?”
Another staff, Friday Aibangbe, a blind athlete, noted, “The Governor did not consider us at all. We worked for him and voted for him and fought for him, now he has disappointed us.
“You sacked the cripple, the able body and the blind. Look at somebody like me, where does the Governor want me to go to. Do I go and start begging for money? Governance should have a human face. It is very sad, it is very painful.”
Addressing the protesters, the Commission Chairman, Yusuf Ali, promised to take their complaint to the government.
“I wouldn’t have wanted this to be the way 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,” Ali stated.
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