NASS staff members from four states in south-south protest non-representation in permanent secretaries’ cadre

Staff members of the National Assembly from four states in the South-South zone of Nigeria have decried the continuous marginalization of the indigenes of the States in appointment to the positions of permanent secretaries.

Specifically, staff members from Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, working in the National Assembly, as learnt, complained to some quarters in the National Assembly and the National Assembly Service Commission.

THE CONCLAVE reports that some of the aggrieved staff members from the four states expressed displeasure with the lopsidedness in appointment of permanent secretaries to head the respective directorates.

They pointed out how Edo state alone have two permanent secretaries in charge of Inter-parliamentary affairs, namely Elder Felix Orumwense and Special Duties, Mrs Henrietta Aimua respectively.

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It was learnt that whereas, a 2014 Director, Mr David Okonna from Akwa Ibom is still in the system, he was sidestepped in the appointment and was, as a matter of fact, supplanted by one of his subordinate officers.

THE CONCLAVE reports that Okonna’s subordinates, who were promoted directors bewteen 2016 and 2018 were recommended over and above him as permanent secretaries and were appointed by the clerk to the National Assembly and National Assembly Service Commission.

It was learnt that Mr Okonna is billed to proceed on retirement in the next couple of months.

These aggrieved staff members who are obviously fighting the cause of Okonna lamented the role played by the then Director of Human Resources and Personnel, Mr Felix Orumwense in the supplanting of Okonna.

It was alleged that Orumwense, having been privy to know about an opportunity for the appointment of a permanent secretary, deliberately hid Mr Okonna’s file who obviously was his senior and instead presented himself for the position.

The staff members decried the antics of Orumwense and have prayed the relevant authorities to cure the mischief before Mr Okonna’s retirement.

They have, therefore, called on the clerk to the National Assembly, who stepped in the saddled on the basis of seniority to effect and correct what they called “these abnormality and injustice metted out to this gentleman (Okonna).”

They also adverted the attention of the National Assembly Service Commission to take bold and courageous steps and action to rectify the anomaly before the retirement of Mr Okonna.

According to the staff members, “the south-south as it stands today is not well represented. Two permanent secretaries are from Edo State from the Edo-Delta axis alone. What of Rivers, Cross Rivers Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom? None, even when we have Mr David Okonna who is more qualified than some of the incumbent permanent secretaries.”

They espoused the geo-political zonal representation and its lopsidedness to validate their advocacy.

According to them: “Other zones have the following permanent secretaries, to wit: Northwest -4; Northeast- 3; Notth Central- 3; Southwest- 3; Southeast-3 and South-south- 2 both coming from Edo State.”