Peter Okafor
The Odua integrity group has implored FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, to immediately stop the planned imposition of an administration staff with degree in English.
The group said the staff is not a chartered accountant and do not have ANAN certification.
The group President Babajide Olaosebikan made this known during an interaction with the press.
“It is an insult to the entire FCT administration, particularly under Wike who is known to follow due process and respect professionalism.
The architects of this plan are hiding under a recent circular that emanated from the office of the secretary to the government of the federation that stated that directors in parastatals on tenure appointment should handover to their next in line, and retire.
” This is different from the case of the FCT treasury department, which has to do with career progression in the person presently being denied who is more senior”, he said.
He said FCT is not a parastatal but an administration, and such such law cannot be applied .
“The Honourable Minister is once again being sabotaged, that is the reason why we have taken up the challenge to let him know, before some bad eggs smear his name.
“He should immediately reverse the decision. The act is capable of tarnishing the image of the administration, as the finances are going to be controlled by non professional. This has never happened in FCT and it’s department.
“Career progression differs from tenure appointment as differentiated in the circular. It is a very clear issue as the most qualified director in the treasury department is supposed to takeover which is the standard practice.
“We are against any attempt to tarnish the good image of the fct Minister hence our urgent call for redress. At the end of the day, all the blames will go to Nyesom Wike the fct Minister.
“The finances of the FCT and treasury cannot be entrusted in the care and trust of a non professional who has been in administration and not finance department.
“The FCT before the El Rufai administration was a full fledged Federal ministry before it was changed to the federal capital Territory administration with the Minister charged with the responsibility of mandate secretaries, FCTA Executive secretary, heads of fct agencies and departments.
” The office of head of service of the federation appoints and posts permanent secretary to the administration. Hon. Minister is told this because alot of decisions on reposting and replacements could be hidden from him.
“We in this noble group that also campaigned for President Tinubu are optimistic that immediate corrections will be made in the interest of competence and professionalism”, he said.
The group further added that credible intelligence reaching them indicated that the immediate past treasury director advised the administration on the impending danger.
” If the most senior non professional director is allowed to take over, the reason why he handed over to the most professional senior director because finance officers mostly comes from professional backgrounds as stated in the law.
“Let us agree that the person being manipulated to takeover is the most senior but it does not count on accountancy and finance since the person did not change cadre”.
“In addition, the SGF circular emphasised on tenure appointment and not career officers. Tenure appointment is for executive directors appointment in parastatals for tenure of four years and not applicable to the FCT.
The group further added that the most qualified professional senior director in the treasury department without mincing words qualified to assume duty just like accountant general of states.
“A non professional can never be appointed as Accountant General of a state, the same way a non professional cannot takeover as Treasury Director in the FCT.
“It is just like asking a lawyer to head the FCT hospital management board or an accountant to head the FCT legal services secretariat.
“Standards and norms must be maintained by allowing the most senior professional to assume duty. The FCT is a land of all, with sensitivity of financial flow, if such is allowed to happen, then misappropriation, bad budget and miscalculations on revenue direction will be the order of the day”, he said.
