Sweepers numbering about 100 in Edo State have threatened showdown with the Government over alleged in payment of their entitlements.

The aggrieved persons alleged that they were recruited to clean up the Games Village, the Samuel Ogbemudia Sports complex and other sporting venues used for the hosting of just concluded the National Sports Festival tagged: “Edo 2020′.

The sports fiesta started on April 2nd and climaxed on Wednesday night with thrills and excitement.

One of the female sweepers who identified herself as ‘Glory’ said on Friday that she will join her fellow women on a peaceful protest to Government House in Benin City next week if doesn’t receive her N20, 000 bank alert (stipend) on Monday April 19, 2021.

Glory, expressed apprehension that the contractor that recruited them into the exercise had invited the women to a meeting repeatedly to be patient with a Government official.

According to her, we began to worry when we heard that the contractor whose name was not given, had been paid. So, we called her mobile number, told us this (Friday) evening that we we get receive alert before the close of work on Monday April 17, 2021.

“But we have made up our minds to to go to the Governor’s office next if they pay us on Monday”, vowed.

Recall that some angry youths had lamented the non payment of their allowances while Governor Godwin Obaseki (host) was making his closing remark at the closing Ceremony of the festival at the main bowl of the stadium on Wednesday night.

But the youths who stood beside the Oby van of a national television stand at the stadium, were however dislodged by security operatives.

Meanwhile, the State Government has commenced the decontamination of the Games Village, the Samuel Ogbemudia Sports complex and other sporting facilities used for the hosting of the National Sports Festival.

The exercise, according to the State’s COVID-19 Incident Manager, Dr. Andrew Obi, is to prevent another outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic in the state after the successful hosting of the sports tournament.

Obi, who disclosed this during the daily virtual meeting of the State COVID-19 Taskforce, chaired by the State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, noted that the cleanup and decontamination exercise will be carried by the state’s decontamination team under the supervision of the Project Manager, Games Village for Edo 2020.

The Incident Manager said the state also carried out a pre-exit sample collection and testing for contingents to examine the impact that the Games had on the state in terms of spread, adding that the Edo COVID-19 Taskforce effectively managed the Games ensuring compliance with all preventive protocols against the spread of the infectious disease.

He maintained that Edo has continued to record a progressive decline in active cases, case positivity and fatality rates as well as an impressive rise in recovery rate, noting “this is an indication that the outbreak has been significantly contained in the State”.

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