Kogi sacks 1,774 workers, eight perm secs

The administration of Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi state, has compulsorily retired eight permanent secretaries, some directors and dismissed 1, 774 others from the state civil service.

The affected staff were served their letters last December.

The letters were signed by Deborah Ogunmola, state head of service, and Ado Shaibu, chairman of the state Civil Service Commission.

A copy of the retirement letter addressed to one of the affected permanent secretaries indicated that the retirement was “in the interest of the public”.

Some of the affected permanent secretaries told NAN that they were contemplating legal action.

However, Mrs Petra Akinti-Onyegbule, chief press secretary to Yahaya Bello, the governor, defended the action, saying it was part of ongoing reforms in the civil service.

According to her, the retirement affected only permanent secretaries that have served for four years and above.

“The retired permanent secretaries have been paid their consolidated benefits that accrued to them,” she said.

“Also affected are civil servants who have attained the special salary grade level 17.”

The governor’s media aide added that directors who served for eight years and above would also be affected.

She said the exact number of directors to be affected would be based on the outcome of the recent promotion interviews conducted for them.

“In order to get the best replacement for the retired permanent secretaries, directors who had been in office for eight years and above but are yet to attain retirement age or maximum number of years in office were given the opportunity to partake in the exams to fill the position of permanent secretaries,” she said.

“The result of the examinations which held on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, and followed by interviews is yet to be out.

“Until the result is out, we will not be able to put a definite figure on the number of directors that will be affected by the compulsory retirement.”

The chief press secretary also confirmed that 1,667 workers with “fake certificates” were dismissed from the state civil service.

She said those dismissed were uncovered during the screening carried out by the state government in 2016 and 2017.

Akinti-Onyegbule also said 107 other workers were dismissed for engaging in fraudulent activities.