Okowa Demotes Employees In State Public Service Promoted 8 Years Ago By Predecessor

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has reportedly approved the demotion of some civil servants from Grade Level 16 to 14, Grade Level 13 to 12 and Grade Level 10 among others elevated by former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration in 2010.

A circular letter copied relevant government authorities in the state with ref number: HOS.24/36, titled ‘Elongation Of The Officer’s Cadre In The State Public Service To Salary Grade Level 17′, dated September 3, 2010, signed by Mr. O. Ofili, then Head Of Service, reads thus:

“His Excellency, the Governor, Dr. E.E. Uduaghan has graciously approved the elongation of the officers’ cadre in the state public service to salary Grade Level 17.

“By this kind gesture of His Excellency, the Governor, aimed at motivating the workforce to greater productivity, a new officers’ cadre progression shall now apply in the state public service as shown in the schedule here-under alongside the old career progression.”

According to the circular, “General Managers/Heads of Government owned companies, board and parastatals, howsoever they may be designated, currently on grade level 16, whose appointments, in the first instance, were approved by His Excellency, the Governor in accordance with the relevant laws establishing the outfits shall now be on grade level 17 provided they have spent a minimum of 4 years on grade level 16 and are so recommended for the approval of the appropriate authority”.

Report by Saharareporter, quoting Government sources who confided in them, says the 2010 elevation done by Uduaghan was mostly enjoyed by the state-owned three media houses who before now did not enjoy such elevation.

The report says, Governor Okowa however miffed by elevation by his predecessor had purportedly instructed the Head of Service to originate a letter quashing the elevation which, was immediately issued as a circular.

According to the report, the state government have to keep the circular from public acknowledge to avoid mixed reactions.

“The whole illegal arrangement is being carried out by the Information commissioner, Mr. Patrick Ukah and the General Manager of the Pointer Newspapers, Mr. Bosah Iwobi, whose tenure has elapsed for over two years now. The corrupt practices and long stay of Iwobi has killed the Pointer Newspapers,” the source said.

“Iwobi has continued to sabotage the interest of qualified persons for promotion. He flouts orders from the Directorate of Establishment and Pension, which approved stipulated periods that staffers were due for promotion. The GM a major problem, he is nepotistic, fetish and selfish. He gives kickbacks to Ukah regularly to allow his stay in office.”

In the circular letter with ref number: ED 6/68 vol.11/631, from the Directorate of Establishments and Pensions, signed by one G.I. Obiaigwe on behalf of the Head of Service, dated 15, May, 2018, the state government demoted the civil servants to lower grade levels.

The circular, which was copied the commissioner for Economic Planning, The Accountant General, The Auditor General, Commissioner for Information and others, showed that the demotion were carried out without any reasons, mainly affecting the three state-owned media houses: Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba and Warri and the Pointer Newspapers, Asaba.

When contacted for clarifications on the circular by Saharareporters, the Head of Service, Mr. Reginard Bayoko, who acted as if he knew nothing about it, simply said: “I need to see the letter to react appropriately. Give me some time to clarify.”

Bayoko said he reached out to Mr. G.I. Obiaigwe, who purportedly signed the circular on his behalf, but he denied it, saying: “There is no such circular. They should forward a copy of the purported circular to him (Obiaigwe) to take a look at.”

In his reaction, the state Information commissioner, Mr. Patrick Ukah, denied ever seeing such letter. When asked about his alleged involvement, he flared up and started shouting on top of his voice.