A pressure group, Transparent Citizen Forum, has enjoined Niger state governor Abubakar Sani Bello to respect the Civil Service Reform in the appointments of permanent secretaries.
The group in a statement signed by its leader Usman Usman Ubandoma on Thursday noted that the redistribution of Permanent Secretaries in October 2015, favoured both Niger North and South against Niger East Senatorial District.
According to the group, Governor Bello’s “policy has come under wide condemnation considering the lopsided appointments carried out by his government.
“The concerns began to emerge as early as the composition of the transition committee, the appointment into key government offices and the posting of Permanent Secretaries and Directors”.
It should be recalled that Stakeholders had protested and publicly condemned the action of the Governor in disregarding the principles of federal character, the abuse of laid down policy as enshrined in the extant civil service reform.
“The Civil Service Reform has been in practice since the OBJ administration and has over the years provided smooth transition for public officers at Permanent Secretary & Directorate level. This is another contentious issue the government must not joke with”.
Ubandoma added that the reform seeks to retire persons holding the above mentioned position on attainment of 8 years in service.
“About 7 permanent Secretaries appointed between 2003 and 2008 are affected and still holding on to their offices including the present Head of Service. Alh. Mohammed Maude Lapai. Aliyu T. Ahmed– Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transport.
“Others are M.B Mustapha– Planning Commission, Mrs. Rabi H. Yahaya– Government House, Dr. H.N. Muh’d– General Services, Barr. U.N Wali– Ministry of Justice and Dr. M. N Mahmud– HOS/PSO.
“The need to establish a uniform set of rules and regulation for administration and retirement and of public officer is imperative for the smooth running of government and in the spirit of change that the Governor is constantly mentioning in most of his speeches.
“What we need is a progressive scale of development based on the total respect for rules. It is therefore necessary to urge all relevant authorities to look into this and others in order to sustain peaceful coexistence and service delivery,” the statement reads.
