FERMA Workers Express Concern Over Akpabio’s Appointment Of Board Members

The FERMA unions have contested the Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s use of “executive board members” in his announcement of certain board members.

In a letter addressed to Akpabio on Friday and shared with the press in Abuja, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees expressed their dissatisfaction with the recent board appointments made by Akpabio.

Akpabio’s announcement of the new FERMA board on Wednesday raised concerns, as he referred to some of the members as “executive board members” rather than the traditional board members.

In the jointly signed letter by ASCSN Chairman Paul Onimisi and AUPCTRE Chairman Abdulmumin Idris, the unions criticized Akpabio’s decision, describing it as demoralizing and contrary to the FERMA Act.

The unions said, “The appointment of some persons as executive board members is contrary to the provisions of Section 2(2) of the FERMA Act as amended and career progression within government agencies.

“It is counterproductive and demoralising for career officers as the intention is for the executive board members to take over from career officers who are running departments.

“We urge you respectfully, distinguished Senate President, to confirm the appointment of board members in accordance with the Act that created the board.

“To do otherwise is to usher in a chain of events that will disrupt the agency’s structure, derail its mandate and demoralise the workers.”

The unions’ executives said the direct consequence of making some members of the board executive members to head departments was to derail the agency because workers would not support it.

The union leaders emphasised that the particular adverse result of the contraption of making some board members executive board members was the creation of a board within a board.

They added that such would drive the agency in contra-direction regarding its mandate.

“The agency and its members of staff are peacefully working towards the achievement of its mandate in their service to the nation.

“An urgent clarion call is hereby made for the immediate reversal of this illegality to forestall looming anarchy this contraption may cause,” the unions stated in the letter aimed at drawing President Bola Tinubu’s attention to the anomaly.