BENIN CITY – The Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) is currently embroiled in a brewing scandal as whistleblowers within the agency have raised alarms over alleged financial recklessness, job racketeering, and administrative breaches under the leadership of the Board Chairman, Mr. Oladele Bankole-Balogun.
Sources within the agency, speaking on the condition of anonymity to _Standard _Daily_ Press_, paint a picture of an institution in financial distress, claiming that the EIRS reserve funds have been depleted to the point where the payment of staff salaries and monthly overhead costs is now in jeopardy.
*Allegations of “Mouth Appointments” and Illegal Promotions*
Central to the controversy is the accusation that the Chairman has bypassed established civil service protocols in the recruitment of personnel. Reports suggest that at least 16 individuals were employed “by word of mouth” without undergoing mandatory interviews, examinations, or receiving formal appointment letters from the Board Secretary.
Furthermore, a senior administrative officer identified as Mrs. Ogedengbe is alleged to have facilitated these irregular hirings.
“The Chairman has employed his people without probation periods as full, illegal staff,” a source revealed.
The source further alleged that Mrs. Ogedengbe has issued unauthorized promotions to herself and select others, in direct violation of the administrative laws governing the autonomy of the EIRS.
*Questionable Spending and “Silence” Incentives*
The petition also highlights what insiders describe as “wasteful spending” on infrastructure and logistics.
Specifically, questions have been raised regarding:
Inflated Infrastructure: The construction of a single-room security house reportedly valued at approximately ₦100 million.
Vehicle Procurement: The acquisition of five Toyota Camry models (2017 and 2020) at an estimated cost of ₦27 million each. Critics claim these vehicles were distributed to Directors as a move to “seal their mouths” regarding the internal rot.
*Revenue Decline and Lavish Lifestyle*
Despite the agency’s primary mandate to bolster the state’s coffers, stakeholders claim that revenue generation is currently at its lowest ebb.
Under Bankole-Balogun’s stewardship, the EIRS is reportedly seeing its worst performance since its inception—a sharp contrast to the eras of previous chairmen like Dr. Ese Owie.
While revenue remains stagnant, the Chairman stands accused of “junketing” across the country and flying First Class, further straining the agency’s dwindling resources while sidelining the core workforce.
*A Call for Accountability*
As of the time of this report, the EIRS leadership has yet to issue an official rebuttal to these specific allegations. However, the brewing crisis poses a significant challenge for Governor Okpebholo’s administration, which has campaigned on the platform of fiscal discipline and transparency.
With the workforce currently in a state of unease over unpaid overheads and the uncertainty of future salaries, calls for an independent audit of the EIRS accounts and a review of recent personnel changes are mounting.
