Benue: PDP Condemns Revocation Of Ortom’s Appointments By New Govt
THE State Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has described the nullification of recent appointments in the civil service by the new state governor, Hyacinth Alia, as insensitive and unlawful.
The committee condemned the development, saying the decision to revoke appointments made in the state civil service by former governor Samuel Ortom’s administration has denied some Nigerians the rights and privileges guaranteed them under the state’s labour laws
The ICIR had earlier on Wednesday, 7 June, reported that the new governor of Benue State Hyacinth Alia, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), revoked last-minute appointments by former governor, Ortom.
Alia nullified appointments made from May 2022 and reversed postings and transfers in the state civil service from October 2022 and directed affected staff to return to previous positions.
“All civil servants and or persons appointed permanent secretaries from January 2023 to date should revert to their previous positions forthwith,” a statement released by the governor’s spokesperson, Tersoo Kalu, said.
Reacting to the development at a press conference in Makurdi on Wednesday, the state acting PDP chairman, Isaac Mffo, kicked against the directive, stating that the civil servants affected were given lawful appointments into the state civil service having fulfilled all statutory requirements.
“The directive by Governor Alia, which was conveyed to the public via a statement through his Chief Press Secretary this morning (Wednesday), quashed all appointments, promotions and postings made in the state civil service from May 2022 to the time of his assuming office.
“But of particular concern to us as the leading opposition in the state is the directive that ‘All recent appointments into the state civil service made by the outgone administration from May 2022 to date are hereby nullified with immediate effect.
“The insensitivity in the Benue State governor’s action becomes more glaring when viewed against the backdrop of the untold hardship which Nigerians were subjected to under the recently expired Buhari regime in the forms of catastrophic economic mismanagement and such insecurity as directly threatened the country’s sovereignty,” Mffo said.
Alia had earlier sacked all political appointees under the Ortom administration serving in the various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the state government.
The appointees were directed to hand over to the most senior civil servants in their offices.
Culled from The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (The ICIR)
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