Furore over pre-retirement leave: Doubts, tension in NASS over HoS’ letter reportedly in support of Clerk to NASS
The last may not have been heard of the crisis that has been generated by the leadership succession in the management of the National Assembly as an intervention purportedly by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF) has raised a spectre of scandal, thus worsening the situation.
The genesis of the crisis was the plot by the outgoing Clerk to the National Assembly, CNA, Architect Amos Olatunde Ojo, to spend his three-month pre-retirement leave in office.
Ojo was scheduled to have proceeded on pre-retirement leave on Monday, November 14, 2022, to pave the way for the National Assembly Service Commission, NASC, to appoint his successor.
The appointment of a successor in Ojo’s stead should have happened sometime last week, but the outgoing CNA who had served for 35 years and attained 60 years (both Service year for retirement and retirement age from service respectively) had embarked on quiet overtures to the NASC, Speaker of the House of Representatives to secure approval to spend his pre-retirement leave in office.
Ojo’s move runs against the grains as all his predecessors in office proceeded on their three-month pre-retirement leave.
The two exceptions were Dr Salisu Maikasuwa who proceeded six months ahead of retirement; and Alhaji Sanni Mohammed Omolori, who was forced to retire before the effective date of his retirement from service.
THE CONCLAVE reports that on Monday, November 14, 2022, some fresh twists were introduced into the CNA’s pre-retirement saga.
The first twist was the sudden decision by the outgoing CNA to spend his pre-retirement leave in office after he had withdrawn a letter of request tonthe NASC in that regard on Friday.
The second twist was the tension generated by the claim that the purported endorsement of Ojo’s extension of stay in office, was advised by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Folashade Esan.
However, there are doubts over the authenticity of the letter purportedly written by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation in which she gave a guidance on the mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave of a retiring Civil servant.
The concern and claim in some circles in the service were that the officer a director, Mr Adebayo O. Odejinmi, who signed the HoCSF letter, had retired from service as far back as June 16, 2022.
Aljazirah News platform had, in its August 1, 2022 edition, reported a Civil Society organisation, Watch Africa Civil Society Group, to have claimed that Mr Odejinmi had retired from the service since June 16, 2022.
The group had also raised the alarm about Odejinmi’s alleged questionable activities.
The petition was reportedly sent to the HoCSF with a copy said to have been received by Infomavores.
The petition read in part: “We are a Civil Society Organization operating in Nigeria; our basic objective is to fight corruption and promotion of good governance.
“As a Non-Governmental organization, we have decided to join you in this very important crusade to expose greedy, corrupt, overzealous and vindictive civil servants who have caused and will continue to cause social-economic hardship to our nation if left unchecked.
“In line with the zero corruption tolerance mantra of President Muhammad Buhari, we have been encouraged to inform you on the questionable activities of your Special Assistant by name Mr Odejinmi Adebayo Olusanjo who had retired from service on 16 June, 2022 by the virtue of mandatory 60 years of age in public services rules.”
The petition had centred on a number of allegations against Odejinmi.
Some stakeholders in the National Assembly have expressed shock that the same Odejinmi signed the intervention letter in respect of the outgoing CNA on behalf of the HoCSF in his position as a Director, and not as Special Assistant (SA) stated in the petition, thus indicating that he is still in the service.
It could not be easily confirmed as of the time of publication on Monday evening whether or not Odejinmi had actually retired on June 16, 2022.
Some sources spoke of what they referred to as the notoriety of Odejinmi in complicitly aiding and abetting circumvention of civil service rules.
His involvement in the outgoing CNA saga has reportedly cast doubt on the authenticity of the intervention by the HoCSF.
Recall that the outgoing CNA had written to the NASC last week to withdraw his earlier letter of request to spend his three-month pre-retirement leave in office.
But before the Commissioners of NASC could sit on his request, he had withdrawn the letter on Friday evening, creating an impression that he was ready to proceed on leave immediately.
The drama, now entered a new phase on Monday morning when Mr Smart Olanrewaju, the Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, reportedly forwarded a letter from the Head of Service to the NASC.
The Office of the Speaker, had earlier written to the HoCSF, seeking her opinion on whether or not it was proper for Ojo to spend his three-month pre-retirement leave in office.
The HoCSF in the response said there was nothing wrong in Ojo’s request.
The letter was signed by a Director, Adebayo O. Odejinmi, for the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation
It was addressed to the Office of the Speaker House of Representatives, through the Chief of Staff.
Part of the letter read, ” I am directed to refer to your letter dated 10th November 2022 on the above subject seeking clarification on Pre-retirement Leave l.
“The pre-retirement leave is provided for in their Public Service Rule (PSR) 100238 which states:
“Officers are required to give three months notice to retire from service before the effective date of retirement.
“At the commencement of the three months, officers should proceed immediately on the compulsory one month pre-retirement.workshop/semmnar.
“For the remaining two months retirng officers are expected fo take necessary measures to put their records straight so as to facilitate the speedy processing of their retirement benefits.
“Going by the provision, it is compulsory for the retirng officer to give a notice of three months prior to his/her retirement.
“Among other intents this provision is to enable the MDA arrange a replacement in good time, for the officer.
“As provided in the rule and where organised, the retiring officer will attend the one-month pre-retirement seminar.
“He/she is expected, in his/her own interest. to gather his/her records from various MDAs. he/she might have served. This is to facilitate the processing of his/her retirement benefits.
“It Is therefore. not out of order if the officer chooses to work in office during the period.
“Please accept, the assurances of the warm regards of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.”
The Speaker, House of Representatives through his Chief of Staff, immediately conveyed the HoCSF letter to the NASC, with a written communication.
Gbajabiamila’s letter, dated November 11, 2022 with Ref Nos NASS/SPK/ADM/VOL 1/5288, read: “The Executive Chairman, National Assembly Service Commission, Plot 664 TOS Benson Crescent Off Okonjo Iweala Way, Utako District, Abuja.
“GUIDANCE ON MANDATORY THREE MONTHS PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE OF A RETIRING CIVIL SERVANT.
“I am directed to refer the National Assembly Service Commission to the correspondence from the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, HCSF/314/93 on the above subject.
“The Speaker of the House of Representatives has directed that the correspondence should be referred to the commission for guidance and clarification on pre-retirement leave of a retiring civil servant.
“Attached herewith are copies of the above referred correspondence, HCSF/314/93 and the official enquiry letter from the Honourable Speaker to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation dated November 10, 2022.
“Please accept the assurances of the Honourable Speaker’s warm regards. Signed: OLANREWAJU SMART Chief of Staff.”
THE CONCLAVE further reports that the development has unsettled the National Assembly management and the NASC.
Amid the interesting saga is the fear that a can of worms might have been opened as to whether or not the HoCSF was actually in the know of the letter issued by Odejinmi.
A sensitive matter such as this, a source said, should have been personally responded to and signed by the HoCSF if her opinion was sought.
Some stakeholders have also questioned the propriety of the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation intervening in the interpretation of the rule of the National Assembly Service Commission which is capable of interpreting the rule and checking through precedents to guide successive CNAs in accordance.
Lastly,some staff and stakeholders have however, queried the motives of Arc Ojo desire to perpetuate himself in office,they questioned, what is so special about the three months Ojo,is struggling and fighting for; what is he afraid of,or was he not ready or aware that a day like this will come? They advised him to save the National Assembly this huge embarrassment and call on the commission to also save themselves from this negative trajectory before they become laughing stocks.
The National Assembly Service Commission, a source maintained, functions as the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and therefore was needless to drag it into the internal affairs of the NASC and the NASS.
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