The letter addressed to Ahmed was dated June 6, 2022, and signed by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria; Nigeria Civil Service Union; Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees and Nigeria Union of Public Service Reportorial Secretariat, Data Processors and Allied Workers.
Members of staff unions in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation have called on the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, to ensure compliance with the law while appointing a new accountant general.
The letter addressed to Ahmed was dated June 6, 2022, and signed by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria; Nigeria Civil Service Union; Amalgamated Union of Public
Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees and Nigeria Union of Public Service Reportorial Secretariat, Data Processors and Allied Workers.
Members of the union noted that in the next few months, the acting AGF would be exiting from service, urging Ahmed to ensure the appointment of a new and Substantive Accountant-General of the Federation is in line with the provisions of the Federal Establishment Circular 2011-2020.
They said appointing the most senior director (Accounts) in the pool for the job was the appropriate thing to do.
According to them, if this is done, the image and confidence of the treasury will be maintained.
The letter reads, “We know you for your integrity and prudence, it is on this note that we the Union of this office wishes to extend our gratitude for your quick intervention in appointing the new Acting AGF. This is necessary to keep the services of the nation going.
”In the recent times, we have observed that EFCC and ICPC are interfering with the office activities which may hinder quick services to the Nation. These Agencies are free to discharge their duties, but with decorum not to distract the services being rendered.
"The Union is praying that in the next few months when the Acting AGF will be exiting from service, the Substantive AGF should be appointed or selected based on the Federal Establishment circular 2011 – 2020. With this, the image and confidence of the treasury will be maintained.
“The most Senior Director (Accounts) in the pool, according to the circular attached should be considered. Based on your integrity and transparency, the Union knows that the needful will be done.”
Sources alleged that following the suspension of the AGF, Ahmed Idris was suspended over an allegation of N80billion fraud, the minister had bypassed the most senior officer who could have replaced Idris and appointed Anamekwe Nwabuoku to oversee the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
However, Nwabuoku is due for retirement in a few months, and there are allegations of misconduct, hence the need for the letter by the unions.
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters had obtained a copy of the Federal Establishment circular 2011 – 2020 which the workers mentioned.
The document which was signed by Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and addressed to all Head of Extra Ministerial Departments/Directors General/Chief Executive Officers of Parastatals, Agencies, Commissions and Government Owned Companies, explicitly stated that they must keep to the date of expiration of their tenure in office.
It reads, “It is important to note that chief Executives: whose duration of term in office are explicitly stated in the ending Acts of the establishment of their respective organizations and/or as specified in the instrument of such respective appointments, are under no circumstances, allowed to exceed the expiration of their tenure in office.
"Furthermore, pending the appointment of a substantive Head of Extra-Ministerial Department/Director General/Chief Executive Officer of parastatals, Agency, Commission and Government Owned company, the outgoing Chief Executive Officer must hand over to the next most Senior Officer of the establishment, as long as the officer does not have any pending disciplinary marten; outgoing Heads of Extra-Ministerial Department, Parastatals, Agencies, Commissions and Government-Owned.”
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