Ogun Commissioner-Designate Fights On As Abiodun Eases Her Out

Sidi Osho, the Ogun State Education Com­missioner-designate, is currently battling to retain the position amid indi­cations that Governor Dapo Abiodun has eased her out of the government.

Osho was cleared by the House of Assembly to be ap­pointed a commissioner but was not available for swear­ing-in when her colleagues were sworn in in January.

Soon after the swearing-in, a letter went viral detailing how she was dismissed as a staff of the state-owned Ola­bisi Onabanjo University, Ago- Iwoye, since 2016, the reason, it was later gathered, for her absence at the swearing-in.

Although she has not been sworn in, Sidi Osho had con­tinued, in the last five months, to occupy the office of the edu­cation commissioner, attend­ing to official duties.

But in what appears a twist in the narrative, the state gov­ernment seems to have eased the embattled appointee out of the system as it has issued a circular taking off official duties from her.

Daily Independent gath­ered that one of the special advisers to Governor Abio­dun on Education, Ronke Soy­ombo, last week, summoned a meeting of directors in the Ministry of Education, Sci­ence and Technology, where a circular issued and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Tala­bi, was read to the hearing of the directors.

A copy of the circular dated April 30, as obtained by Daily Independent, directed the state officials to relate with special advisers and the permanent secretary in the ministry, pending the appointment of a commissioner, and not Osho.

According to the circular, all issues affecting basic edu­cation were to be directed to Soyombo, while issues affect­ing technical education were to be directed to Joseph Ode­muyiwa.

The circular, which takes effect from May 5 and direct­ed to the Head of Service and other relevant agencies, reads: “In view of the current situa­tion in the Ministry of Educa­tion, Science and Technology, it has become imperative to make some role/responsibil­ity clarification for efficient and effective discharge of overall responsibilities of the ministry and to fast-track the attainment of the focus of this administration as it relates to education.