The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, has called the bluff of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by redeploying her successor, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi.
Recall that President Tinubu on December 10, 2024, appointed Ogunjimi as the acting Accountant-General of the Federation as Mrs Madein is expected to proceed on pre-retirement leave.
Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga’s statement read in part: “His (Ogunjimi) appointment is effective immediately following the pre-retirement leave of the incumbent AGF, Dr. (Mrs) Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein.”
However, Mrs. Madein and some top officials of the ministry frustrated Ogunjimi’s resumption until Thursday, when his redeployment along with other officers, was announced.
Madein has vowed to remain in office till March 7, 2025 when she is due for retirement.
In a circular released on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, and titled ‘Posting of Treasury Officers’, she moved Ogunjimi to PSIN Accounts instead of allowing him to understudy her ahead of taking over.
Ogunjimi, who was moved with 20 others, has up to Christmas eve to report in his new post.
The latest redeployment of Ogunjimi was seen as part of the grand plot to stop him from occupying the office.
The circular personally signed Madein reads: “I hereby approve the posting of the following Directorate Level Treasury Officers with immediate effect towards enhancing effective service delivery.
“I want to further reiterate that all officers are to note that failure to comply with this posting instruction shall be treated in accordance with the provision of the Public Service Rules (PSR) 020602 (iv).
“Accordingly, affected officers are advised to submit assumption of duty certificates to the office of the undersigned on or before Tuesday, 24th December, 2024.”
In the circular, Ogunjimi was moved from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (Funds) to the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN) Accounts.
Some others redeployed were Abalaka James N (OAGF Funds); Dagin Seldam (OAGF STF); Ekwem Virginus E (OAGF IPPIS); Luka Joshua Kadmi (Ministry of Foreign Affairs Accounts)etc
The situation at the AGF office became more confusing yesterday when it became clear to the polarized staff members that the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation (HoCSF) had endorsed Mrs. Madein to remain in office till her March 7 retirement date.
She took advantage of the elongation of her stay in office by the HoCSF to redeploy Ogunjimi.
The letter authorising Mrs. Madein’s continuation in office was issued by the HoCSF Mrs. Esther Walson-Jack and confirmed Thursday in Abuja.
According to the spokesperson of the (OAGF), Mr. Bawa Mokwa, the letter reinstates Mrs. Madein to her role as AGF and allows her to oversee treasury operations until her retirement.
Mokwa said: “Embarking on terminal leave by retiring civil servants is optional; it’s in the civil service regulations.
“However, staff members are unsure if Mrs. Madein’s letter invalidates Ogunjimi’s appointment by the President.”
While the letter did not explicitly nullify Ogunjimi’s appointment as Acting AGF, it may have slowed down his resumption as the acting AGF until President Bola Ahmed Tinubu decides.
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