ASABA/Nigeria: Two officers in the accountant cadre in the Delta State Civil Service have been demoted.
The Chairman of the State Civil Service Commission, Dame Nkem Okwuofu, disclosed this recently when she led members and management of the Commission to the Ministry of Information, Asaba in continuation of the Commission’s monitoring and visits to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA).
Dame Okwuofu noted that the officers were demoted because they were wrongfully promoted, indicating that they did not meet the prerequisite for promotion or passing the professional examination meant for the advancement of accountant to level 15.
According to the Commission’s Chairman, the promotion of 37 others were deferred pending when they successfully pass their professional examination, saying those that were wrongfully promoted had been asked to make refunds to government the money earned while on wrongful promotion.
She said the Commission was being proactive by ensuring the processes of promotion of officers were tidied up, adding that the Commission had cleared all back log of promotions and was in the process of concluding that of 2018.
While commending the Ministry of Information for being prompt in the delivery of promotion briefs, the Chairman warned that henceforth, MDAs responsible for delays in the promotion of staff would be exposed and sanctioned by making them to pay for the cost of delays.
Dame Okwuofu bemoaned the absence of seniority list for the past years saying, “We have not had seniority list in the State for years. It is supposed to be a yearly publication or at most every two years. It helps to avoid doubts and arguments as to seniority and a guide to knowing vacancies.”
On inadequate accommodation and office space, Dame Okwuofu, said that the challenge was receiving attention through the construction of the multibillion mega secretariat complex in the state capital, expressing hope that by 2019, affected ministries would be in the new secretariat environment.
She recalled the May Day promise of the State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, to gradually clear off promotion arrears when the economic situation was suitable and called on heads of MDAs to start compiling the names of affected staff in preparation for when the implementation of the promotion arrears would be effected
On career progression, she urged officer to be conversant with their schedule of duties, advising that it would make them grow in their chosen profession, while charging them not to resist posting, saying it would help to broaden their horizon, tackle new challenges and meet people.
The Commission Chairman urged officers not to be scared of blowing whistle on issues that affect ethical misconduct in working environment, saying the identity of any whistle blower would be kept confidential.
Earlier in an address of welcome, the Functioning Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Paul Osahor, disclosed that the Ministry was the official mouthpiece and image building organ of the State Government, saying the Ministry currently had 290 staff comprising 267 senior and 29 junior officers.
He said following the approval and release of funds to the Government Printing Press, the printing of the backlog of government gazette from 2013 had since commenced.
The visit had in attendance General Managers of Delta Printing and Publishing Company, Mr Bosah Iwobi and his counterpart from Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba, Lady Evelyn Binitie, as well as Directors in the Ministry, featured a question and answer session.
