Headlines

Group Urges FCT Minister to Address Tenure Extension Concerns in Public Service

Published

12 months ago

January 29, 2024

Group Urges FCT Minister to Address Tenure Extension Concerns in Public Service

A Civil Society Organisation under the aegis of Transparency and Accountability in Public Service, has called on the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, to be wary of some top management staff of the Administration who have extended their tenure for selfish ambition.

The group in a statement issued by the National Coordinator, Barrister Chidi Ejifor, and made available to journalists said public servants extending their tenure has raised questions amongst civil servants of the Administration.

The Coordinator maintained that in recent scrutiny, a top public servant has come under the spotlight for overstaying his designated service years, sparking concerns about transparency and accountability within the public sector.

The group alleged that the current Director of Operation Planning and Strategy in the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Prince Samuel U. Atang, has consistently amended his service records, thereby elongating his stay in service.

According to the group, “we have empirical evidence to show that Prince Samuel U. Atang has overstayed his welcome in public service.

“Recall that one Mr. Senen Udo, who retired from the services of Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) in July 2021, was Atang’s mate during the one year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

“It is also on record that when Mallam Bashir Mohammed, was appointed as Director of Human Resource management, Prince Atang could not hide his grievances and told everyone who care to listen that he was the officer who documented Bashir at the point of entry into the service.

“He alleges that they gave the position to his junior because he is not from the northern part of the country and not a Muslim.

“It may also shock you to know that his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Okoli Atang, retired last year as Director of Pension in FCT Administration after attaining the mandatory age of 60 years. By and large, those who served with him, and those he documented as staff including his wife have left the service after putting in 35 years or attaining 60 years of age. Atang remains the “old soldier never dies or the last man standing”.

Ejifor affirmed that the prolonged tenure of this individual has raised questions about the adherence to established guidelines and the potential impact on organizational dynamics.

He also noted that while public servants play a crucial role in serving the nation, it is essential that their terms of service are respected to maintain a fair and equitable system.

In his words: “The overstaying of service years not only violates established protocols but also presents a challenge to the principles of meritocracy and the infusion of fresh perspectives within the public sector.

“This situation prompts a broader examination of the institutional mechanisms in place to monitor and enforce adherence to service timelines.

“Addressing such cases is crucial not only for maintaining the integrity of the public service but also for fostering a culture of accountability and responsibility”.

He, therefore, called on the FCT Minister to critically look into the issue with a view to rebuilding trust and maintaining the credibility of the public sector.

Headlines

Kano inaugurates 14-member committee to review education policies

Published

2 days ago

January 16, 2025

Saadatu Sahabo

The Kano State Government has inaugurated a 14-member committee tasked with reviewing existing education policies in the state.

Inaugurating the committee on Thursday in Kano, the Commissioner for Education, Dr Ali Makoda, said that the committee was constituted by the Kano State Executive Council to assess the state’s education policies.

“This committee was originally scheduled to be inaugurated by the governor, but due to prior engagements, he has delegated the responsibility to me so that we can begin our work immediately,” Makoda stated.

The Commissioner outlined the committee’s terms of reference, which include reviewing the four existing education policies in the state to assess whether they align with the cultural and religious beliefs of the people.

“Evaluating the feasibility of implementing the policies, and making recommendations to strengthen the state’s education system.”

He noted that the four policies to be reviewed include the Kano State Girls’ Education Policy, Kano State Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Policy, Kano State Non-State School Policy, and Kano State Teacher Development Policy.

Makoda announced that the committee has been given three weeks to submit its report, and urged the members to leverage their expertise to produce recommendations that would enhance the state’s education sector.

In his response, the committee chairman, Malam Abdullahi Dutse, assured the commissioner of the committee’s commitment to work collaboratively to meet the expectations placed on them.

“Considering the diverse expertise of the committee members, I believe the government has selected individuals with the right skills to address the challenges facing education in the state. We will work diligently to provide the necessary report,” he said.

The committee’s members include Malam Abdullahi Dutse (Chairman), Prof Abdallah Uba -Adamu, Habibu Dan Almajiri, Alhaji Danlami Garba, Kano State Commissioner for Women, Children, and Disabled Affairs Hajiya Amina Abdullahi, and Isa Ahmad.

Other members are Prof Tijjani Naniya, Malam Kabiru Hanga, Munzali Mustapha, Prof Auwal Halliru Arzai, and Dr Bashir Aliyu -Umar.

The remaining include the representatives of the Emirate Council and Civil Society Organizations, and Ibrahim Bawa, Director of Archives and Publications, who will serve as Secretary of the committee.

Headlines

U.S commends Nigeria over Galactica funds repatriation efforts

Published

2 days ago

January 16, 2025

Saadatu Sahabo

The U.S. Deputy-Secretary of State, Kurt Campbell, has extolled Nigeria’s partnership in the successful repatriation of funds linked to forfeited luxury real estate and Galactica Star Superyacht. (more…)

Headlines

Tinubu congratulates Nigerian scientists, engineers on making Biden’s honour list

Published

2 days ago

January 16, 2025

Saadatu Sahabo

Tinubu commiserates with Rashidi Ladoja over wife’s death

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated six Nigerians named by President Joe Biden among the 400 recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) in the United States.

This recognition, established by former President Bill Clinton in 1996, is the highest honour bestowed by the United States government on outstanding scientists and engineers in the early stages of their careers.

This year’s awardees, announced by Biden on Jan. 14, are employed or funded by 14 participating United States government agencies, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Spokesman, said in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

The Nigerian honourees include Azeez Butali, Gilbert Lilly Endowed Professor of Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa; and Ijeoma Opara, Associate Professor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences), Yale School of Public Health, Yale University.

Others are: Oluwatomi Akindele, Postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; and Eno Ebong, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, and Biology at Northeastern University;

The rest are: Oluwasanmi Koyejo, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University; and Abidemi Ajiboye, Executive vice Chair of the Case School of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Case Western Reserve University.

Tinubu commended the awardees for their achievements in science, technology and engineering.

He noted that recognising the talents of the awardees underscored Nigerians’ vast potential to excel both at home and on the global stage.

Tinubu looked forward to the honourees sharing their multidisciplinary expertise to benefit Nigeria’s development efforts under the Renewed Hope Agenda. (more…)