Jobs/Appointments
Kaduna Government Affirms Decision to Sack Workers
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Governor of Kaduna State, Mr Nasir El-Rufai, has said there is no going back on the sack of civil servants.
This followed his comprehensive briefing to President Muhammadu Buhari on the rightsizing policy of the state government and the steps taken so far to implement it.
The governor said that Kaduna State will seek accountability for the actions of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state by setting up a judicial commission of inquiry into the NLC strike and protest of May 2021.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr Muyiwa Adekeye, Mr El-Rufai explained that the Kaduna State government is hiring over 10,000 staff because rightsizing obliges the government to further recruit teachers, doctors, nurses and other qualified staff to provide vital services.
The Governor said he assured President Buhari that the Kaduna State government was determined not to allow a repeat of the pains, economic losses and the restraints of freedom that the NLC inflicted on the people of the state.
Mr El-Rufai explained that the state executive council has already communicated to the Minister of Labour of its decision not to approve the agreements reached at the meeting between the state government and the NLC pertaining to its rightsizing policy.
Alluding to the NLC’s renewed threat of strike action, the statement said that the labour union has demonstrated that it does not even believe in equality among its own members by describing the transfer of one Kaduna State employee to a place where other civil servants are serving as victimisation.
“It is trite that an MoU is not a legally binding document. The content of the MoU shows that there is no congruence between the progressive aspirations of the Kaduna State Government and the misguided sense of entitlement of the NLC which does not even believe in equality amongst its own members.
“KDSG employees are serving with dedication in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area, amidst all the challenges. Yet, the NLC describes the transfer of one KDSG employee to Birnin-Gwari LGA as victimisation, as if other staff who have been loyally serving in the same area are lesser humans or permanent victims. KDSG rejects this unfair denigration of the very people that the transferred employee claims to lead,” the state government said.
KDSG stated that “it is improper to describe the routine application of public service rules and labour regulations by a government as victimisation” and asked the Federal Ministry of Labour to reconsider permitting such slurs in documents prepared under its auspices.
“Union membership or accession to a leadership position in a union does not grant immunity to an employee for his/her actions and conduct or exempt them from compliance with the laws that govern everyone else.
“There are procedures that need to be followed to make a strike action legal, and the kind of conduct permissible during legitimate strike action is also bound by law. Lawful strike action still subjects strikers to the no-work, no-pay rule. How then can unlawful strike action be expected to be without consequences, as spelt out in the relevant laws and regulations?”
The statement said that the dominant theme in the KDSG statement at the conciliation meeting was the state government’s rejection of the criminal actions that defined the NLC’s actions.
“It was notable that the NLC delegation was eager for the discourse not to dwell on their violations of laws prohibiting the disruption of essential services and their recourse to coercion and restraints to the freedom of citizens. But these are matters that cannot be ignored or swept under the carpet since unlawful actions that have come to be accepted as part and parcel of strike action remain unlawful.’’
The statement reiterated that “Kaduna State Government has not yet disengaged any state civil servant but has dispensed with the services of 99 political appointees so far.” Only the 23 local government councils and the agencies associated with the local government system such as SUBEB and the Primary Health Care Board have released staff.
It noted that “rightsizing is about getting the optimal number of persons with the requisite skills to staff the public service,” adding that as it is releasing lesser skilled staff, the KDSG is engaged in continuous recruitment of teachers, doctors, nurses and other health workers to provide vital services for citizens.
“More than 10,000 such workers, including 7,600 secondary school teachers are being injected into the public service.”
The statement explained that its commitment to a fair assessment of the credentials of all officers shows in the painstaking approach to the rightsizing exercise for state civil servants.
It said that it is only after the completion of the verification process that KDSG will “release any civil servant that is confirmed not to possess the minimum qualifications prescribed in 2017 as one of the outcomes of the state’s Public Service Revitalization and Renewal Programme.”
The statement then appealed for the continued patience and understanding of all citizens as steps are being taken for the fair conclusion of this exercise.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday appointed Mr Tunji Disu as the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), following the resignation of Mr Kayode Egbetokun.
Mr Disu, an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), was recently moved to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos.
A statement today by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, disclosed that the President would convene a meeting of the Nigeria Police Council shortly to formally consider the appointment of Mr Disu as substantive IGP, after which his name will be transmitted to the Senate for confirmation.
Mr Tinubu expressed confidence that Mr Disu’s experience, operational depth, and demonstrated leadership capacity would provide steady and focused direction for the Nigeria Police Force during this critical period.
He reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to enhancing national security, strengthening institutional capacity, and ensuring that the Nigeria Police Force remains professional, accountable, and fully equipped to discharge its constitutional responsibilities.
Mr Egbetokun was said to have resigned from the position due to pressing family considerations.
President Tinubu, who accepted the resignation letter, expressed his profound appreciation for Mr Egbetokun’s decades of distinguished service to the Nigeria Police Force and the nation. He acknowledged his dedication, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to strengthening internal security architecture during his tenure.
Appointed in June 2023, Mr Egbetokun was serving a four-year term scheduled to conclude in June 2027, in line with the amended provisions of the Police Act.
The statement disclosed that his replacement was in view of the current security challenges confronting the nation, and acting in accordance with extant laws and legal guidance.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Mr Tunji Disu, an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), has reportedly replaced Mr Kayode Egbetokun as the new Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Mr Egbetokun resigned from the position on Tuesday after he was said to have held a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Monday night at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
President Tinubu appointed Mr Egebtokun as the 22nd IGP on June 19, 2023, with his appointment confirmed by the Nigeria Police Council on October 31, 2023.
Appointed as IGP at the age of 58, Mr Egbetokun was due for retirement on September 4, 2024, upon reaching the mandatory age of 60, but his tenure was extended by the President, creating controversies, which trailed him until his exit from the force today.
Although the police authorities are yet to comment on the matter or issue an official statement about his resignation, the move came amid reports suggesting that Mr Egbetokun has left the position.
Mr Egbetokun’s tenure was marred by a series of controversies; he recently initiated multiple charges against activist Mr Omoyele Sowore and his publication, SaharaReporters, after Mr Sowore publicly described him as an “illegal IGP.”
The dispute escalated into protracted legal battles, with the Federal High Court issuing injunctions restricting further publications relating to the former police chief and members of his family. Critics interpreted these court actions as attempts to stifle dissent and weaken press freedom.
His replacement, Mr Disu, was posted to oversee the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, some days ago.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A new Commander of the Maritime Guard Command has been appointed for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and he is Commodore Reginald Odeodi Adoki.
His appointment was approved by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, a statement from NIMASA confirmed.
He was chosen to replace Commodore H.C Oriekeze, who has been redeployed by naval authorities.
Commodore Adoki, a principal Warfare Officer specialising in communication and intelligence, brings 25 years of experience in the Nigerian Navy covering training, staff and operations.
As a seaman, he has commanded NNS Andoni, NNS Kyanwa and NNS Kada. It was under his command that NNS Kada undertook her maiden voyage, sailing from the country of build (the United Arab Emirates) into Nigeria.
He was commissioned into the Nigerian Navy in 2000 with a BSc in Mathematics. He has since earned a Master’s in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos and an MSc in Terrorism, Security and Policing atthe University of Leicester, England.
He is currently pursuing a PhD in Defence and Security Studies at the National Defence Academy (NDA). He is a highly decorated officer with several medals for distinguished service.
Welcoming the new MGC Commander to the agency, the Director General of NIMASA, Mr Dayo Mobereola, expressed confidence in Mr Adoki’s addition to the team, emphasising that it will further strengthen the nation’s maritime security architecture given his vast experience in the industry.
The Maritime Guard Command domiciled in NIMASA was established as part of the resolutions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Navy to assist NIMASA in strengthening operational efficiency in Nigeria’s territorial waters, especially through enforcement of security, safety and other maritime regulations.
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