A group, the Covener of Osun Concerned Elite (COE), has condemned the alleged plans by Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to reappoint the Head of Service (HoS), Mr Samuel Ayanleye Aina, and the outgoing Accountant General of the state, Mr Rashidi Alabi Olalere.
The COE said both Aina and Olalere are due for retirement after attaining the age of 60.
The group said this in a statement signed by Bashorun Adekanola Desmond on Wednesday, March 13, 2024.
It warned Adeleke not to set “Osun State on fire with his shenanigans through unholy extension of services for career officers”.
It said Aina was the Acting HoS when Olowogboyega Oyebade retired at the age of 60 during the administration of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, adding that the former governor kept Olowogboyega in the service for his political strategy despite being officially retired as the HoS.
“It’s imperative to note that no HoS has ever requested and granted an extension of service in Osun State because it is an aberration. It’s the truth and you can verify this fact because records are in the public domain,” the COE added.
The group stated that the most profound negative signature achievement of Adeleke’s administration on the Osun State Public Service is the practice of tenure elongation, adding that the term tenure elongation is unheard of until the advent of the present administration.
“Until the advent of Adeleke’s government, tenure elongation for career officers was unheard of in the state civil service,” it said.
The COE stressed maintained that there was no justification for Governor Adeleke to deliberately compromise the laid down rules by resorting to elongating the period of retiring Head of Service and Accountant General on reaching 60 years of age.
The COE said, “As concerned citizens, we could not easily fail to observe the adverse effects generated by tenure elongation on the public service which are not far-fetched! It is an injustice to the public service as it jettisoned the hierarchical seniority principle thereby compromising the enforcement of discipline in the service.
“Parts of the problems it is generating includes;
“Creates stagnation and stifles career progression of the rank and file in the public service; It kills morale of career officers and by implications, dampens initiative, generation of positive ideas and productivity;
“Entrenches politicization of the public service as the beneficiaries will be too willing to compromise the ethical code of conduct of the public service and thus, dance to the tune of their godfathers.
“Entrenches corruption or corrupt tendencies as it gives a licence to the beneficiaries to engage in outright criminal activities such as budget padding or fake virement of funds to guarantee himself/herself a ‘safe landing
“Many of young graduates will continue to be jobless since those who suppose to go on retirement will refuse to go.
“A serious governor needs a reinvigorated and reinvented vibrant machinery of government that will fast-track the attainment of his objectives devoid of the usual red-tapism and all the self-serving tendencies.”
The group added that the extension of the service of the current Accountant General would make many public officers to be insincere, uncommitted, and double dealings, noting that top and lower level public officers would also engage in leaking government information.
It stated, “The Accountant-General may want to adopt the same strategy created by the HoS by hiring his community leaders to demand that he should continue in service beyond the time provided for in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
“Governor Adeleke should announce the discontinuation and place total ban on tenure elongation policy in the Osun Public Service.
All civil servants who have had their tenure elongated must resign forthwith and go home.
“Any officer or Chief Executive who enjoyed tenure elongation beyond the compulsory retirement period, must be surcharged or directed to refund all salaries, allowances and other retirement benefits.
“The Office of the Head of Service of the State and the Osun State Civil Service Commission should be overhauled and reinvigorated with men of proven records of positive accomplishments and unassailable integrity, who could tell the truth to power.”
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