The decision of the Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu to send the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Peter Jack on an “indefinite suspension” for allegedly employing 245 persons
to occupy vacant offices of the agency across the country without due process, has sparked controversy.
Mr. Jack was replaced by Mr. Vincent Olatunji on January 20 this year. until this appointment in Acting capacity, Mr. Olatunji was the director of Corporate Strategy and Research in the agency.
The Minister’s decision to send Peter Jack on an indefinite suspension, it was further revealed at the weekend, flouts the Act that sets up the agency and the rules for recruitment in the Federal Civil Service.
The Minister on January 20 this year, suspended Mr. Peter Jack, a Chemical Engineer, for “misconduct unbecoming of a public officer of his cadre”.
Mr. Jack’s suspension, according to a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to Mr. Shittu, Victor Oluwadamilare, stated that the Minister acted on petitions against Mr. Jack
“The indefinite suspension became imperative on the strength of deluge of petitions regarding several alleged wrong-doings in NITDA and subsequent preliminary findings of an investigative committee set up by the Ministry,” the statement said.
However, a letter from the suspended NITDA boss, Mr. Jack, dated November 6, 2015 and addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communications, had notified the Ministry of the recruitment of 245 persons.
The letter with the heading “Need for More Skilled Staff”, states that: “Kindly recall that an employment exercise was carried out earlier in the year by the agency to fill some vacancies. The successful candidates were recently notified and have been engaged in the Agency.
“It has become increasingly important that the right people with the right skills are engaged to bridge the gap. Out of this necessity, the various departments recently conducted interviews with duly qualified candidates and have, thereafter, made recommendations to the Human Resources department on the people whom they ave verified to have the necessary skills to be engaged.
“In view of this, i write to request your kind consideration for the approval to implement the recommendations of the various departments by engaging the people verified by them to have the right skills. This will greatly help in bringing in skilled people to the agency and positioning the Agency to fulfil its mandate”.
According to documents obtained by LEADERSHIP WEEKEND, the ex-DG also wrote to the Acting Chairman of Federal Character Commission on the same date of November 6 on the recruitment exercise and got approval to recruit the 245 staff.
The letter requesting for “Waiver of Advertisement for the Recruitment of 250 New Staff”, the DG states in part that “The Agency is presently growing its network of Zonal, State and LGA offices and has shortage of skilled professional manpower. We therefore wish to request for a waiver of advertisement to enable the Agency recruit 250 skilled staff in the senior and junior categories”.
In response to the request on 14th December, 2015, the Acting Chairman of FCC, through the Director of Monitoring and Enforcement, Mr. D.O. Fakeye, stated in part that “I am directed to inform you that based on the explanations offered by you, the Commission has granted your request for waiver of advertisement only”.
In a subsequent letter dated December 30, 2015, the FCC also wrote in approval of NITDA’s request for a “Certificate of Compliance” with the procedure for employment.
The letter from the Commission states: “Please refer to your letter with reference number NITDA/HQ/HRA/157/87 dated 21st December, 2015 requesting for the issuance of Certificate of Compliance in respect of recruitment exercise. Having substantially complied with the provisions of our Circular letter titled Procedure for Recruitment into the Federal Public Service, reference FCC/CHM/S.181 dated 1st September 2014, I am pleased to inform you that the Acting Executive Chairman has accepted your request.
“Consequently, i am to convey approval of a Certificate of Compliance in your favour as authority to issue letters of appointment to two hundred and forty-five (245) successful candidates as contained in the list herewith attached”.
The agency with a paltry nominal roll or only 74 staff, is said to have offices in several states of the federation, but most of the offices are however, said to be unoccupied.
It is from the foregoing, that the decision to fire the DG has sparked public outrage. A civil rights agency last week, called on President Buhari to reverse ‘sack’ and call his Minister of Communications to order.
The Centre for Leadership Network Initiative advised President Muhammadu Buhari to caution the Minister of Communications Technology, Adebayo Shittu, and reverse the suspension of the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Peter Jack.
The National Publicity Secretary of CLNI, Usman Abdulazeez, described the sack of Jack as illegal, saying the minister’s action was a complete departure from the promise made to Nigerians by the President.
Abdulazeez said: “We are disappointed with the actions of the minister thus far are a totally against the spirit of the Nigeria constitution and the public service rule. Firstly, we condemn not only the suspension of Peter Jack but also the insistence of the minister that the Director of Corporate Planning and Strategy, Mr.Vincent Olatunji, should take over as against the most senior Director, Yinka Adejumo, to whom power had earlier been handed over by Jack.”
Leadership
Leadership
No comments:
Post a Comment