Ad-hoc environmental enforcement workers under the Oyo State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources have alleged that they are being subjected to mandatory arrest targets and threatened with removal from work if they fail to meet monthly quotas set by the ministry. The workers, operating under the Environmental Vanguard, claim they have been ordered to arrest environmental offenders without security personnel or government vehicles, exposing them to attacks and injuries. This has raised concerns about their working conditions and safety.
According to one of the affected workers, about 400 people were initially involved in the program, but fewer than 200 were assigned to carry out environmental enforcement operations, including the arrest of environmental offenders. The worker alleged that despite two separate approvals by Governor Seyi Makinde for their employment to be regularised, the ministry has refused to make it happen due to selfish interests. This has left many workers uncertain about their employment status.
The workers have been carrying out arrests since 2019, usually with security personnel and government vehicles. However, under the current Commissioner for Environment, Ademola Aderinto, the situation has changed. The commissioner has asked them to make arrests without security and no government vehicle, using motorcycles and tricycles to transport offenders. The workers claim they have been given targets, and failure to meet these targets will result in complete removal from work.
Only a fraction of the workers is involved in field enforcement, while others allegedly remain in offices or appear mainly during official programs. The workers claim that the monthly targets are based not merely on the number of environmental offenders arrested but on the number of those who subsequently pay fines. This means that officers could arrest several offenders but would only receive credit for those able to pay the required fines.
The quota system works by assigning a percentage target to each team based on the number of paying offenders they arrest. For example, if a team arrests one paying offender out of 10, they would have achieved 10%. The workers claim that the targets have been increased arbitrarily, causing difficulties for them to meet the requirements. This has led to stress and financial losses for the officers.
Several enforcement officers have sustained injuries while carrying out their duties, but the ministry has allegedly failed to provide adequate protection or support. The workers claim that the ministry's primary concern is for them to make arrests by all means, without regard for their safety. This has raised questions about the working conditions, safety measures, and enforcement practices being applied to the state's environmental enforcement personnel.
SaharaReporters contacted the new Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Sunday Akinwale Moradeyo, and the Personal Assistant to Commissioner Aderinto for their reactions to the allegations. However, neither had responded as of the time of filing this report. The allegations remain unaddressed, and the workers continue to face challenges in their line of duty.
Key points
- Oyo environmental workers face mandatory arrest quotas and dismissal threats if targets aren't met.
- Workers claim they are not provided with adequate protection or support, leading to injuries and financial losses.
- The ministry's enforcement practices and working conditions have raised concerns about the safety and welfare of environmental enforcement personnel.
