The Ministers of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello and Hajiya Ramatu Tijani have been accused of failing to implement the FCT Civil Service Commission five years after President Muhammadu Buhari signed the bill establishing the commission.
The Citizens Awareness Against Corruption and Social Vices Initiative, a civil society organisation, raised the concern on Friday, adding that the failure of the FCT ministers was a plot to sabotage the FCT Civil Service Commission Act.
In a letter sent to President Buhari via his Chief of Staff on May 5, 2023, by the group’s Executive Director, Olumuyiwa Onlede, the group accused the FCT/FCDA of also appointing a junior director as Director of Treasury ahead of Mr Ibrahim Mohammed Sabo, the most senior director in the accounting department, which is against public service policy.
The statement read, “We wish to remind Your Excellency of the rigorous exercise that led to the birth of an act to establish the Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission which was duly assented to by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the year 2018 during the 8th assembly.
“Sir, it might interest you to know that five years down the line, the law is yet to be implemented as directed even after a white paper committee was set up to make recommendations for the implementation. Both the act and the report of the white paper committee were swept under the carpet by the two ministers and the permanent secretary for reasons best known to them.
“We must at this point remind ourselves of the benefits of this act to the staffs of FCT/ FCDA, the indigenous and original inhabitants of FCT and Nigerians as a whole.]
“That the implementation of this act will enlarge the scope of responsibility and service of the Federal Capital Territory FCT/FCDA to the people and the nation as a whole whereby with the advent of the Commission the morale of FCT/FCDA staffs will be rekindled due to the fact that smooth career progression will now reign supreme, the commission will now select suitable candidates from within the qualify staff of FCT/FCDA to be appointed as permanent secretaries in the various Secretariats as we have in other states of the federation instead of accommodating a permanent secretary from Nigeria Federal Civil Service Commission. Please refer to the supreme court judgement in the case of Bakari vs Ogundipe (2021) 5 NWLR (Pt.1768) SC, stating that FCT should be administered like a state in the federation.
“We call on the president to direct relevant government authorities to investigate this action and take stringent action against Mallam Mohammed Bello (Hon Minister of FCT), Hajiya Ramatu Tijani (Minister of State FCT) Mr Olusade Adesola (Permanent Secretary FCT/FCDA) and immediately order the head of service to redeploy Mr Olusade Adesola from FCT, this will serve as deterrent to government officials in the business of undermining constituted authorities and undeserving the people through their actions and inactions.
“Except this is done, we will explore other constitutional means including mass protest and litigation against the management of FCT/FCDA and the national assembly to press home our demand to make sure the right thing is done. Please accept the assurances of our highest esteem regards as always.”
