From Umar Dankano, Yola
Adamawa state residents have cautioned Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri on his administration’s policy on extension of additional period to some “favored retired” senior civil servants in the state which is brewing controversy in the civil service in the state.
Many stakeholders viewed the ongoing contentious issue as “act of illegally and impunity” being orchestrating by majority of those in power with the sole aim to allegedly cover up traces of their corrupt perceived dealings which is believed to be a seed for promotion of hatred and stagnation in the civil service.
However, like any other professional calling, the civil service is being guided by the civil service rules and regulations which clearly provided under rule 020980 (1&2) that “A civil servant retires from service upon attaining 35 years in service or attains the age of 60 years”. Meaning any one that comes first.
Independent investigation by this paper revealed that over ten (10) retired senior civil servants ranging from permanent secretaries,Accountant General,Directors
and General managers have been retained by the government despite either attaining 35 years in service or reaching 60 years of age.
Most of them (retirees) have been given extensions ranging from six months to one year for reasons many believe is to cover tracks for the government of the day.
A Senior civil servant who spoke under animosity confessed that he attained the maximum grade level of 17 but was denied opportunity to sit for promotion examination that qualify him for the position of Permanent Secretary just because the present permanent secretary from his local government area was given an extended tenure.
Ventilating his opinion on the matter, a reknown activist and owner of the Clear View Organization, Comrade Yusuf Amos Sunday said that the extension of this tenure to civil servants is nothing more than lawlessness and creation of selfish interest to a highest level.
Comrade Sunday urge Nigerians to resist this deliberate sabotage by the political class to satisfy their egocentric desire to the detriment of the society which is bringing hatred among the civil service.
“What is happening in Adamawa state civil service is Lawlessness and very bad for effective growth in civil service and must be nipped in the bud for the good of the system “.
In his response to the controversy, a legal practitioner, Barrister Evarastus Odo expressed reservation stressing that the move is strange to the law of the land at moment because there is no where in the constitution or civil service rules and regulations that provide for retirement elongation.
Barrister Odo opined that if government want to generally extend the retirement age for civil servants, then we should begin to think about that. The problem why this goes on is that we have a situation where those in service don’t understand that they will one day retire.
Odo advanced that, the issue of age of retirement of any civil servant and indeed public office holders is a matter of law generally and any illegal extension negate productivity of the civil servants.
”The tenure of the president is fixed by law, the tenure of governor is fixed by law the retirement age of a civil servant is also fixed by law generally 35 years or 60 years of age whichever comes first and to the best of my knowledge, I’m not aware of any law that has made any alterations to those laws that allows the extension of anybody’s period of service.
”So the question of extension of service is something that started in a rather strange way and it seems to be spreading and we must guard against it because for one it does not help the system.
”I’m not aware of any law that gives governor powers to extend tenure of officers. Retirement is a matter of law. The head of service needs to help us with the law that empowers governors to extend tenures of civil servants so that we would be guided,” he said.
Responding to the matter, the Head of Civil Civil,Phar. Isa Ardo reaffirm that the action of the government was in the best interest of the state since their services are still needed for the development of the state.
Ardo confirmed that, it is the prerogative of Governor to accord any civil servant extension if he so desire especially in situation where they are no good hands to occupy such position (office) at a particular period of time insisting that there a widow for the Governor to exercise such right as the chief executive.
He added that about six permanent secretaries and few directors who retired have been retained.
“The governor has the right to reengage any officer that is performing his/her duties well”
” I can tell you, though, not in the civil service rules and regulations, there is no rule that stops the chief executive to extend any worker that is still very strong and relevant to the civil service”.Ardo said
He added that there are criteria for the appointment of permanent secretary, ” exams are conducted, only those that score the minimum scores are promoted”
” In the last promotion examination, I can tell for free, three local government areas candidate failed the exams and one LGA ,Toungo has no qualify candidate to sit for the examination for the post of a permanent secretary so other councils have to benefit that opportunity “
