Kogi Govt Sacks 8 Permanent Secretaries, 1,774 Workers

Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello (File-Photo)

The Government of Kogi State on Sunday confirmed the retirement of eight permanent secretaries, a number of directors and the sack of 1,774 employees from the state civil service.

The Chief Press Secretary to the state Governor, Mrs. Petra Akinti-Onyegbule, gave reasons for the government’s action, saying it was a part of the ongoing reforms in the civil service.

She said the retirement affected only permanent secretaries that had served for four years and above.

“The retired permanent secretaries have been paid their consolidated benefits that accrued to them.

“Also affected are civil servants who have attained the special salary grade level 17,” she said.

Akinti-Onyegbule added that directors that served for eight years and above would also be affected.

She said the actual number of directors to be affected would be based on the outcome of the recent promotion interviews.

“In order to get the best replacement for the retired permanent secretaries, directors who have been in office for eight years but who have yet to attain retirement age or maximum number of years in office were given the opportunity to partake in the exams to fill the positions of permanent secretaries.

“The result of the examinations which held on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 and followed by interviews is not yet out.

“Until the result is out, we will not be able to put a definite figure on the number of directors that will be affected by the compulsory retirement,’’ she said.

The affected members of staff were served their dismissal letters in December 2017, NAN reports.

The state’s Head of Service, Mrs. Deborah Ogunmola, and the Chairman of the state Civil Service Commission, Mr. Ado Shaibu, signed the letters.

A copy of the retirement letter addressed to one of the retired permanent secretaries stipulated that the retirement was “in the interest of the public.”

Some other affected permanent secretaries expressed their consideration of a legal action.

Meanwhile, the chief press secretary also confirmed that 1,667 workers were dismissed from the state civil service for having fake certificates.

She explained that the dismissed persons were discovered during the screening carried out by the state government in 2016 and 2017.

The governor’s media aide added that 107 other workers caught engaging in fraudulent activities, were dismissed.