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August 17, 2013
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
From the Civil Service NULGE knocks arbitrary staff deployment in Bayelsa LGs EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA.
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ice President of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), South South, Dr. Jones Ofunne, yesterday took a swipe at the alleged arbitrary deployment of senior cadre officers in the Bayelsa State councils. Ofunne, on a visit to the state yesterday, alleged that seniors at Grade Level 16 in the councils were being redeployed and replaced with junior officers from
Grade Level 9. It was learnt that some of the redeployed officers were Directors of Finance, Treasurers and Heads of Personnel Management. The NULGE boss, who was accompanied by some national officers spoke in Yenagoa, said that the union was in the state to probe the alleged irregularities in councils in the state. “On the issue of this irregular and arbitrary deployment of staff, it is our strong view that the state government was
ill-advised by the body that carried out the exercise. It is like sacrificing experience, seniority, competence and years of service on the altar of political nepotism and despotic considerations,” he said. While noting that team had concluded its investigation, Ofunne condemned the action of the state Local Government Service Commission which acted without respect to the laws to the laws governing the civil service. According to Ofunne, the state branch of NULGE had written
series of letters to discourage the policy when the commission implemented the first phase. “Rather than listening, the government went ahead to execute other batches. We will still continue with our consultations as we seek audience with the government. We expect that the government will listen. We have written earlier for audience and we hope it will be granted,” Ofunne said. The NULGE boss, however, lauded the state government for regular payment of salaries and
ensuring there was transparency in the local government system by appointing permanent secretaries from the system. In a reaction, Permanent Secretary in the Local Government Service Commission, Chief Suru Oyarede, said the deployment was mere posting and was in line with the mandate of the commission. Oyarede, however, demanded that our reporter sought more explanations from the Chairman of the commission, Mr. Talford Ogolo on the matter.
Nasarawa govt. warns civil servants against holding double appointments
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he Nasarawa State Government has warned that it is criminal and unconstitutional for civil servants to hold double or multiple appointments while in active service. The Head of Civil Service of the state, Dr Dominic Bako, said in a statement issued in Lafia on Friday that it was wrong for civil servants to hold political appointments and at the same time, operating private businesses. “Any civil servant found operating a private business, running Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), engaged in contracts or political appointment will be sanctioned based on the civil service rule,’’ the statement said. “Any civil servant, who is holding double appointments,
is advised to desist from such acts or be sanctioned. “The government has put up all the necessary machinery to check and sanction civil servants found wanting. “It is uncalled for and ungodly for civil servants to receive double salaries while in the civil service. How can one be in the civil service and is still holding political appointment and at the same time operating private business? The Head of Service directed all permanent secretaries, heads of all government agencies and local government service commission to monitor and ensure strict compliance. The statement, however, said that civil servants were only allowed to engage in farming as part of their contribution to national food security.
NEMA begins assessment of flood-prone areas in Kebbi
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he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said it had commenced the assessment of areas identified as flood-prone in Kebbi. The North West Coordinator of the agency, Alhaji Rilwanu Ismail, announced this when he visited the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu, in his office in Birnin Kebbi on Friday. Ismail said the assessment would help the agency to adopt measures to prevent future havoc in the state. He called on state governments
to support the agency in preventing damage sequel to the expected flood, adding that the agency will collaborate with states to prevent the havoc. Aliyu said a statewide campaign would be conducted on the measures to prevent damage during the expected flood. He said the relevant authorities had been alerted on the expected flood, and they will adopt measures to prevent that, especially finding alternative settlement to people living on flood plains.
Al-Makura
Dickson
NLC seeks God’s intervention to alleviate workers’ plight in Anambra
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igeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Anambra planned to stage a oneday prayer session in Awka to seek God’s divine intervention over the precarious condition of workers in the state. Anambra State Chairman of NLC, Mr Patrick Obianyo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Friday that a three-day fasting from Aug. 19 would precede the prayer session slated for Aug. 21. He told NAN that the NLC decided to seek the face of God because workers in the public civil service in the state had suffered so much under successive governments. Obianyo, who is also the chairman, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Anambra chapter, enjoined the workers to participate actively in the prayer programme. He said that the prayer session was being organised to prevail on the present administration to intervene in the plight of the workers. He said that the permanent
secretaries in the state civil service were more of glorified clerks in terms of salary, with the net pay of about N150, 000 per month and directors receiving N110, 000. “If these are the salaries of permanent secretaries and directors, then come to think of what the salaries of other workers down the ladder would be. “Anambra workers are the least paid throughout the federation and it is not more of lack of fund, but the willingness by the powers that be to accord workers their due rights,’’ Obianyo said. The chairman said that Anambra remained the only state that organised labour had never gone into any meaningful dialogue with the government. “That is, perhaps, part of the reason government is still holding seven months check-off dues of some industrial unions for going on strike to demand the implementastion of the minimum wage regime,’’ he said. Obianyo explained that Anambra was the only state without the Civil Service Com-
mission, Local Government Service Commission and Post Primary School Service Commission for one year and six months. According to him, “the workers will vote only for the aspirant in the forthcoming gubernatorial election that will be ready to pay them the minimum wage. “Enough of the sacrifice, enough of the sufferings. Our children have the right to quality education, they must have food on their tables,’’ Obianyo said. Mr Uche Nwora, Permanent Secretary, Head of Service, Anambra, said that government had been sensitive to the plight of workers in the state. He said that government would not have met all the workers’ demands, ``but it is not to say that government is insensitrive,’’ he said. He said that work had started for 1,000 housing units for workers at Isi-Agu in Awka, pointing out that government also planned to employ 4,000 new workers.