ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has stated reasons for the nullification of the recruitment of workers and promotion of staff by his immediate predecessor, Samuel Ortom.
Governor Alia in his State broadcast on Monday to mark the 2023 Democracy Day, explained that 15,200 workers were brought in by the past administration through recruitment and replacement.
Alia added that in the entire exercise, due process was not followed.
On posting of staff, the Benue Governor added that some of the appointments made contravened the state character principle.
He said: “As we mark Democracy Day in Benue State, we owe you all explanations about the few key decisions we have taken so far. On the issue of Recruitments/ Appointments, we noted that it was full of irregularities.
“Specifically; the Civil Service Secretariat through the out-gone administration recruited 2,194 persons. The State Universal Basic Education employed 3,028 against the approved number of 2,500 only while replacements made were over 5,000.
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“Teaching Service Board employed 2,500, that is, for Grant-in-Aid Schools, four in number, 120 teachers, replacements were 2,484. In the entire exercise, due process was not adopted.
“In addition, the employment was lopsided in favour of a few local government areas and did not take the principle of state character into consideration; also, no budgetary provision was made to cater for the recruitments just as there was no advertisement in any media as required by the provisions of the rules guiding the service on the matter; and no interviews were conducted to determine suitability or otherwise of candidates.
“Above all, the Solicitor-General of the State was not involved at any stage of the recruitment process.”
Also, the Governor, gave reasons for reversing the appointment of persons to the post of Permanent Secretaries from January 2023 to May 2023.
“Since the appointments were politically motivated, the due process required was not observed;
“The eventual postings of the appointed Permanent Secretaries were mainly for cover-up;
“In making the appointments, the State Character Principle was not observed,” he said.
The Governor said that the decision taken so far by his administration was without witch hunt but laid foundations on which to build the peaceful and prosperous Benue.
He assured workers and pensioners of prompt payment of salary and pension allowances, adding that: “Indeed, as from 25th of this month, Civil Servants should start expecting alerts for their payments.”
Speaking on Democracy Day, Governor Alia said that the declaration of 12 June as the nation’s democracy day by former president, Muhammad Buhari, was a recognition of Chief MKO Abiola as the rightful winner of the 1993 presidential election.