Admin l Friday, June 04, 2021
BENIN CITY, Edo, Nigeria – The Federal Government has suspended Head of Benin Marriage Registry, Mr. Ozuruonye Chukwuma for what it termed gross negligence of duties and absence from duties without leave and acts unbecoming of a public officer in negation of the Public Service Rules.
Mr. Ozuruonye Chukwuma was suspended and ordered to report to Abuja pending investigation and final decision on his case.
Recall that some sections of the media reported that the said officer was not at his duty post to carry out his statutory role when, on Friday 28th May, 2021, an intending couple and their family members were at the Marriage Registry for the event, but the Registrar was not on ground to conduct the Marriage. A couple, Mr. Abel Ugiagbe, Miss Marian Obire and their family members were at the Benin Register to carry out their statutory marriage but the absence of the registrar denied them that joyful opportunity.
Read also, THE EXPLOSIVE NIGER DELTA YOUTHS MEETING WITH AKPABIO
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, and Principal Registrar of Marriages in Nigeria, Dr. Shuaib Belgore said the decision to discipline Chukwuma was in line with the ethics of the Civil Service which encourages, diligence and discipline for public officers
“This will serve as deterrent to others who are careless with their official duties,” Belgore said.
Belgore added that he had directed immediate investigation into the incident and ordered that Mr. Ozuronye Chukwuma be relieved of his duties as a Marriage Registrar in Benin Federal Marriage Registry and recalled to the HQs in Abuja immediately, pending the conclusion of investigation”, she sad.
The PS and Principal Marriage Registrar of Marriages in Nigeria noted that the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (@raufaregbesola) had warned all Federal Marriage Registrars who handle their official duties with levity to desist from such acts or be ready to face disciplinary actions.
“The Permanent Secretary and Principal Registrar of Marriages in Nigeria, on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (@raufaregbesola) and the entire Ministry, tenders an unreserved apology to the Couple, Mr. Abel Ugiagbe, Miss Marian Obire and their family members who were made to face disappointment on a day that should have been for joyful celebration”, Mr. Soyinka-Onijala, Director Citizenship & Business said in a statement.
