In Edo, orphanage protests against govt’s abandonment

Hundreds of physically- challenged,
orphans and vulnerable children
catered for by Project Charilove at the
weekend protested over non-payment
of alleged five months arrears of their
monthly subventions amounting to
N1.250 million by officials of the Edo
State Ministry of Women Affairs and
Social Development.
The home lamented that it spends
nothing less than N1.65 million monthly
on its free food project that serves 318
persons daily except on Sundays, yet its
N250,000 subvention from the state
government, which has been that
amount for over 10 years, is being
denied them.
The protesting vulnerable children
were led by the founder and co-
ordinator-General, Project Charilove,
Chris Omusi, who alleged that there
was a ploy by officials of the ministry to
deprive them of the subvention of
N250,000 monthly from the state
government.
Omusi, who led the pupils to the state
Ministry of Women Affairs and Social
Development, brandished various
placards with inscriptions, “Civil
servants, do not starve the poor to
death” and “Do not kill our free food
for the needy project,” accused the
ministry of discriminating against the
home.
However, the Commissioner for Women
Affairs and Social Development, Mrs.
Aanena Jemitola, quickly brokered
peace when the protesters got to the
state secretariat, promising that all the
issues raised by the home would be
addressed.
In a statement signed by the Permanent
Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Women
Affairs and Social Development, Alfred
Omo-Olaye, the allegations of
deprivation, starvation, and non-
payment of five months subvention
made by the Charilove Home were
unfounded.
“The Ministry has continued to ensure
that all funds accruable to Project
Charilove Orphanage Home for the
months of February, March and April
2016 is ready but the founder is yet to
come forward and collect it.”
He added that the management of the
home’s failure to “meet up with due
process regarding the submission of
comprehensive documentary report on
how funds are utilized as well as report
of activities of the home and his
deliberate refusal to submit his Bank
Account Number to enable the Ministry
effect E-Payment have further
compounded the issue of non-payment
to the home, as the Ministry cannot
disburse funds without compliance with
the rules regulating financial issues.”
The Guardian gathered that the cheques
allegedly denied the home have been
prepared and some even already
delivered. It wondered why the
cheques where prepared and released
when the operator hasn’t complied with
the ministry’s due process.