FG Disciplines Benin Registrar Of Marriages For Negligence, Absenteeism

The Federal Government has instituted immediate disciplinary
action against Mr Ozuruonye Chukuma, the Registrar of the Federal
Marriage Registry in Benin, for negligence and absence from
duty.

The offences, it said, constituted acts unbecoming of a public
officer in contravention of extant Public Service Rules.

The Director, Citizenship and Business at the Ministry of
Interior, Mrs Soyinka Onijala, disclosed this in a statement on
Friday, on behalf of Dr Shuaib Belgore, Permanent Secretary, in the
ministry.

Belgore, who is statutorily the Principal Registrar of Marriages
in Nigeria, said the decision was in line with the ethics of the
Civil Service which encouraged diligence and discipline in public
officers.

“This will serve as a deterrent to others who are careless with
their official duties,” Belgore said.

He added that he had directed an immediate investigation into
the incident and ordered that Chukuma be relieved of his duties as
a Marriage Registrar at the Benin Federal Marriage Registry and
recalled to the Headquarters in Abuja immediately, pending the
conclusion of the investigation.

It will be recalled that some sections of the media had reported
that Chukuma was absent from his duty post to carry out his
statutory role on May 28, as 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.

Belgore noted that the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola,
had earlier warned all Federal Marriage Registrars, who failed to
carry out their official duties diligently to desist from such acts
or be ready to face disciplinary action.

The permanent secretary, on behalf of the minister, and the
entire ministry, had tendered an unreserved apology to the couple,
Mr Abel Ugiagbe, and Miss Marian Obire, over the
disappointment.

The Federal Government has instituted immediate disciplinary
action against Mr Ozuruonye Chukuma, the Registrar of the Federal
Marriage Registry in Benin, for negligence and absence from
duty.

The offences, it said, constituted acts unbecoming of a public
officer in contravention of extant Public Service Rules.

The Director, Citizenship and Business at the Ministry of
Interior, Mrs Soyinka Onijala, disclosed this in a statement on
Friday, on behalf of Dr Shuaib Belgore, Permanent Secretary, in the
ministry.

Belgore, who is statutorily the Principal Registrar of Marriages
in Nigeria, said the decision was in line with the ethics of the
Civil Service which encouraged diligence and discipline in public
officers.

“This will serve as a deterrent to others who are careless with
their official duties,” Belgore said.

He added that he had directed an immediate investigation into
the incident and ordered that Chukuma be relieved of his duties as
a Marriage Registrar at the Benin Federal Marriage Registry and
recalled to the Headquarters in Abuja immediately, pending the
conclusion of the investigation.

It will be recalled that some sections of the media had reported
that Chukuma was absent from his duty post to carry out his
statutory role on May 28, as 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.

Belgore noted that the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola,
had earlier warned all Federal Marriage Registrars, who failed to
carry out their official duties diligently to desist from such acts
or be ready to face disciplinary action.

The permanent secretary, on behalf of the minister, and the
entire ministry, had tendered an unreserved apology to the couple,
Mr Abel Ugiagbe, and Miss Marian Obire, over the
disappointment.