Over what the Government of Adamawa State described “improper employment and transfer of service”,the fate of about 5,000 civil servants whose salary was suspended have been finally stamped during the last Wednesday state executive council meeting.
The council have finally endorsed a white paper report of the committee on regularization of employment and transfer of service.
The commissioner of information and strategy in the state Dr. Umar Garba Pella who made the disclosure Wednesday, shorty after the state executive council meeting, advised those employed between September 2018 – May 2019 to seek fresh employment, as the government no more recognized them as its employees.
Pella said the white paper report of the committee shows that there were irregularities in the employment process during the said period.
“If you know you are in Adamawa and you are employed between September 2018 and may 2019, we are of the opinion that that period, a lot of irregularities took place and that the council today based on the recommendations from the committee which made available the report to us and upon which the white paper was based, it is confirmed that the employment at that period did not follow due process and the advice is that they should seek fresh employment and we are willing to employment.
“We will ensure that regular processes are followed which is in line with the rules so that we can employ them and regularize the process,” he said.
In a statewide broadcast, a week after his inauguration, governor Fintiri has announced the dissolution of all chairmen of board and Parastatals, governing board of state owned tertiary institutions, and nullify last minutes appointments, recruitments and other hasty decisions taken by the immediate past administration in the state.
“For the avoidance of doubt all political office holders in the previous government are hereby relieved of their appointment with effect from Wednesday 29,may. These include commissioners, SSG, senior special advisers, special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants and development areas administrators.
“Similarly all appointments made into the state judicial service commission, civil service commission, planning commission and board of the Adamawa state health insurance, chairman and members of the Jimeta ultra modern market board are hereby suspended,” the governor announced.
He further suspends all appointments made on or after 28th march, 2019 on ground of public interest as well as last minutes recruitments through mere waiver without observing the laid down procedures such as federal character.
The governor then announced plans to set up a committee that will thoroughly review the hasty recruitments and decide on the need to conduct a proper exercise that will be open to all eligible citizens including those affected by the suspension.
The governor also announced the suspension of the General managers of Adamawa State water board, Adamawa state urban planning development authority, state transport company and the executive secretary of post primary schools management board pending the receipt of inquiry into their respective organizations and also dissolved all the chairmen and members of boards, parastatals and commissions.
Following the announcement, the government stopped salaries of about 5,000 affected civil servants.
Months after stoppage of their salary, the government started issuing sack letters to affected staff of the state Polytechnic.
Spokesperson of the affected civil servants, Malam Faisal Baba, at a press conference in Yola accused the state government of withholding their salaries for the past seven months and issuing sack letters without any justification.
He lamented the reluctance of the state House of Assembly, the organised labour and other relevant key stakeholders in prevailing on the state government to rescind its decision.
Baba stated that the way and manner the disengagement was carried out clearly shows that selfishness and political sentiments were the overriding motive behind the exercise.
He noted that despite the assurances of the state deputy Governor, that their case would be addressed when the workers protested on 2nd October 2019 at the Government House.
The Director-General Media and Communication, to governor Fintiri, Mr. Solomon Kumangar, who spoke with our reporter on the issue said the State Government has ordered a review of the entire excise to ensure fairness, equity, and justice.
Kumangar revealed that the normal protocol for employment was not followed by the immediate past administration noting that some applicants with third class degrees were recruited as Lecturers in tertiary institutions, stressing that this was against guidelines of the Nigerian University Commission, NUC and National Board for Technical Education NBTE.
Mr. Kumangar stated that, the Head of the State Civil Service and other relevant bodies would closely review issues and that those who are qualified have nothing to fear.
After his defeat at the polls, Bindow has carried out a number of last-minute appointments, effected promotions and constituted boards of some government agencies which Fintiri upon assumption reversed noting that such commitments ceased to have any effect.
