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Tag: Civil Servants

  • Christmas: Civil servants yet to resume duties after two days break

    As work resumes on Wednesday in the Federal Capital Territory, a visit to the Federal Secretariat, showed low turnout of workers.

    The federal government had declared December 25 and 26 as public holidays to mark the Christmas and Boxing Day celebrations.

    The News Agency of Nigeria correspondents who were at the secretariat in Abuja, observed that the secretariat which was usually a beehive of activities was virtually empty.

    NAN also reports that most offices were locked and a few members of the staff and cleaners were seen hanging around.

    Some workers who spoke to NAN attributed the low turnout of workers to the yuletide season as many people had travelled.

    Udochukwu Mgbeche of the Ministry Of Communication Technology told NAN that many workers were not in the office because they had travelled for different programme in their respective villages in spite of the fuel scarcity.

    “As you can see this is not what the secretariat used to be; it used to be a beehive of activities.

    “As you can see most of the offices are locked because many people have travelled despite the fuel scarcity.

    “I am in the office because I need to be here; I am not on leave, the public holiday is over. I came because it is my duty as a member staff to be in the office.’’

    Also, Femi Adewole from the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, said though workers were yet to resume fully, he expressed optimism that workers will resume fully by New Year.

    “The office is not that full because a lot of people who travelled must have been stranded due to scarcity of fuel; I guess by January people would have returned and will resume work.

    “Personally, I have to be in the office even though there is no work for me to do; it is necessary I report to the office even if it means me sitting down in the office doing nothing.’’

    Similarly Chinwe Osita, a civil servant said that the fuel scarcity was a major hindrance for some workers.

    “It was difficult for me to come to the office today, transport fare has doubled. Before now I used to pay N100 from Mararaba axis to town, now the fare is N200.

    “This means I have to spend nothing less than N500 when you include my bike fare to and fro the bus stop.

    “By January many people would have returned and work will resume fully.’’

    A visit to the National Hospital also showed that health workers were fully on ground to attend to patients.

    Enyioma Aja, a matron at the hospital told NAN that work was in progress as many patients took their turns to see the doctors.

    “As you can see I am very busy. For we health workers, there is no holiday because we have to attend to the sick who come in every day.

    “In spite the fuel scarcity we have to do everything humanly possible to report for duty.”

    (NAN)

  • Court orders forfeiture of 86 vehicles, four houses belonging to civil servant

    Court orders forfeiture of 86 vehicles, four houses belonging to civil servant

    The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Apo, Abuja, has ordered that 86 luxury vehicles, together with four houses and a quarry plant in Abuja, belonging to a civil servant, Mr. Ibrahim Tumsah, be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government.

    The luxury vehicles were allegedly seized from Tumsah, a director in the federal Civil Service.

    Tumsah is said to be the Director of Finance and Account in the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.

    All the 86 vehicles, 23 of which were said to be armoured, linked to him, were described by detectives as brand new.

    The court’s forfeiture orders also affected four houses, two of which are located in Wuse II; one in Wuse Zone 7, and the other in Jabi, all in Abuja.

    Also to be forfeited to government by the court’s orders, is a quarry in Kuje, Abuja, which was said to have been seized from Tumsah.

    Eight containers, with household items, also seized from Tumsah, are affected by the court order.

    The 86 vehicles, the landed assets and the other items were said to have been found on November 17, 2017, in a warehouse located on the premises of the house at 22 Igbani Street, Jabi, Abuja.

    Court papers obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday showed that Justice Muawiyah Idris of the FCT High Court made the interim forfeiture orders on December 6, 2017.

    The judge made the orders following an ex parte application filed on November 23, 2017, by the recently constituted Special Investigation Panel on the Recovery of Public Property on behalf of the Federal Government.

    The panel is chaired by the Special Assistant to the President on Prosecutions, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla.

    The judge granted the interim forfeiture order after the panel’s lawyer, Rimamsomte Ezekiel, argued the ex parte motion on December 6, 2017.

    The court, in its ruling, granted the orders authorising the panel “to freeze” all the items listed in the schedule attached to the ex parte motion “pending full investigation on the serious criminal allegations that were brought against the respondents” – Tumsah and brother, Tijjani Tumsah.

    But the judge also ordered that the panel’s ongoing investigation must be completed within three months.

    He then adjourned until March 6, 2018.

    Some of the 86 cars listed with their chasis numbers and colours in the schedule attached to the panel’s ex parte motion include Wrangler Jeep (black), Audi ASL (ash), Toyota Hilux (white), Taurus Ford (red), Mercedez Benz S550 (red), Mercedez Benz GL 550(black), Toyota Land Cruiser V6 (black), Toyota Prado Jeep (white), Jaguar (ash), another Toyota Hiluz (white), Toyota Highlander, and another Mercedez Benz S550 (black).

    Also on the schedule are two Golf GTI cars (both black), Hyundai Veloster (red), Wrangler (red), Chevrolet (ash), Mercedez Vaneo (ash), Infinity FX50 (ash), Honda 2008/9, Jaguar XF (silver), Sahara Jeep (grey), BMW 7 Series (dark ash), Mercedez E550 (silver), Toyota Avalon (dark ash), Mercedez CLK 550 (ash), Cayenna Porche (black), Toyota Camry 2009 (sky blue), Jeep SRT Chirokee (silver), BMW GT550 (white) and BMW R8 2 Series (black).

    Others on the list are Hyundai Velager (red), Camry 2013/14(white), Mercedez C300 (black), Ford Taurus (golden), Lincoln Niks (dark ash), Equus 2013 (dark ash), Toyota Sequoia (black), Audi A7 3.OT (black), Toyota Prado (black), another Mercedez C550 (black), KIA 900 (black), Avalon 2014(dark ash), Fiat 500 (silver), Acura RNX 2013, Lexus 15 3500, another Ford Taurus (Maroon), Caridac XT54 (red), Fiat; Turbo; Ford Excursion; Honda V6 Tourine, Audi Q 736, Ford BW, Lexus LS430 and Infinity QX705.

    They also include Maserati, Ford Super Duty, Toyota RAV4, Ford 4X4 Super Duty, Land Rover VIE 1155, Land Rover VIE 1265, Ford Taurus Limited, Ford SHD, Audi 55, Roya Turbo and 20 other luxury cars.

    The seized houses are located at 34 Euphrate Street, Wuse II, Abuja; 5 Siraso Crescent, Wuse Zone 7, Abuja; 27 Cairo Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja; and 22 Igbani Street, Jabi, Abuja.

    The quarry, said to have been seized from the civil servant, was said to be located in Kuje.

    Of the eight “containers” also allegedly seized from him, one was said to be empty, while the rest were said to have contained items like mattresses, cables, Honda Bike 4 Wheel, among others.

    The Obono-Obla-led panel had alleged that Tumsah, from whom the multi-million naira assets were seized, was merely on a monthly salary of less than N500,000, yet acquired all the assets between 2016 and 2017.

    Muhammed Kabiru, a police officer and a prosecutor seconded to the panel, informed the court in a supporting affidavit filed along with the ex parte motion, that the panel, earlier in the year, received a petition against Tumsah, who was accused of “official corruption and abuse of office.”

    According to the panel’s investigators, Tumsah acquired the seized assets in the name of two of his companies registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission –Integrated Service Insurance Limited and Integrated Bureau De-Change Limited.

    It was alleged that Tumsah used his brother, Tijjani Tumsah, as front, to act as the Chairman and Managing Director of the companies.

    Both Tumsah and his brother were joined as respondents to the application marked M/873/17.

    Alleging that the seized assets were proceeds of crime, the panel said both Tumsah and his brother, when invited for interrogation, could not explain or justify their sources of wealth and how they acquired the assets.

    The investigator also alleged that both of them could not remember the number of bank accounts they were operating on behalf of their two companies.

    He stated, “That the items listed above in our schedule were acquired in 2016 and 2017.

    “The second defendant (Tumsah’s brother) is not into any business, and neither a retired civil servant in any office.

    “That our investigation into this matter, when the respondents (Tumsah and his brother) visited our office, could not explain, and remember the number of their bank accounts which they are operating under the name of their two companies.

    “That our investigation reveals that the first respondent, who is a civil servant and a director in the federal ministry, uses his office to acquire those vehicles, the houses, landed properties, those containers and the rest of those items listed in our schedule.

    “That the first respondent and the second respondent could not explain or justify the sources of their wealth regarding how they came about those items in our schedule above.

    “That our investigation reveals that those items in the schedule are proceeds of crimes, abuse of office and official corruption against the first respondent, Ibrahim Musa Tumsah.

    “That those items in our schedule are exhibits which can be used against the respondents in their criminal prosecution in the court of law.

    “That those vehicles from numbers 1 to 86 in our schedule are expensive in market value.

    “That we need an interim order of this honourable court to keep those vehicles, the houses, containers and other items in their preserved position (the status quo) pending the completion of our investigation and to charge the respondents to the court of law.

    “That our intelligence report shows that the respondents are trying to sell those houses, and some of the containers listed in the schedule.

    “That our intelligence report also reveals that the respondents are trying to remove some of those vehicles in order to destroy our possible exhibits.

    “That the respondents, some few days ago, came to the premises and threatened to sell some of those vehicles without our knowledge and consent.

    “That hereby attached is the investigation report in this matter as our Exhibit SPP 1.

    “That also attached is the list of those vehicles, the containers and Honda Bike 4 Wheel as Exhibit SPP2.

    “That our investigation is still ongoing and is yet to be completed.”

  • Christmas Bonus: Ugwuanyi approves 13th month salary for civil servants

    Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on Tuesday approved a 13th month salary for civil servants of the state to celebrate the forthcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations.

    The Enugu State Executive Council (EXCO) approved the bonus after meeting with leadership of organized labour union at the Government House, Enugu.

    Reacting to the development, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Virginus Nwobodo stated that the gesture was unprecedented in the history of the state, considering the nation’s economic downturn that has made it impossible for many states to pay workers’ salaries.

    Comrade Nwobodo commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for the offer, which he said was a surprise package borne out of his magnanimity and an incentive to the workers to motivate them to discharge their duties efficiently.

    The Labour leader urged the state workers to reciprocate the gesture by putting in their best to increase productivity.

    Also speaking, the state Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Igbokwe Chukwuma Igbokwe, who equally appreciated the state government’s gesture, noted that the beauty of the offer is that the workers never asked or agitated for it, saying: “It was freely given to us and because of that, it is another milestone in this administration of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. and Comrade Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who is always passionate about workers’ welfare”

    Comrade Igbokwe, who stated that the workers are part of the Enugu project, maintained that the leadership of the union and the workers will continue to appreciate the gesture and reciprocate by discharging their responsibilities for the growth and development of the state.

    “We use this opportunity to commend His Excellency for his kind gesture and to continue to say that as Oliver Twist, good things will continue to come. Our prayer is that the state will continue to improve and increase its revenue so that more things will come the way of the workers”, Comrade Igbokwe said.

     

  • Ebonyi, BOI float N2bn loans for civil servants

    The Ebonyi State Government has urged civil servants in its payroll to key into the N2 billion loan scheme being operated by the government and Bank of Industry to improve their standard of living.

    Mr Pius Eze, Chairman of the 15-man committee inaugurated by the state government to work out the modalities for the loan disbursement, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abakaliki.

    According to him, the committee has embarked on sensitisation visits to local government areas of the state to enlighten the workers on the importance of keying into the scheme.

    He said that it was difficult under the present economic situation for workers to save about N300,000 and N500,000 from their salaries to start up a business, hence the need to key into the project.

    He said government and BOI contributed N1 billion each into the scheme and stressed that beneficiaries would pay a paltry six per cent interest.

    He said that the loan would assist civil servants to engage in alternative sources of income to better their welfare and economic wellbeing.

    He said that the workers’ monthly pay could no longer sustain them and their families under the present economic situation hence need to diversify sources of income.

    “Thye Governor, David Umahi, is interested in alleviating the plight of Ebonyi workers and that is why he has earmarked N1 billion as loan for workers to access and this is in addition to the N1 billion he attracted from the BOI

    “The loan, which has only six per cent interest, will enable civil servants to invest the fund in any business of their choice which they can fall back on during their service and after retirement from active civil service.

    “The whole idea is to empower the Ebonyi civil servants and enable them to improve on their monthly in come generation by engaging in other alternative sources of income.

    “The Committee has embarked on sensitisation campaigns to local government councils to educate the workers, enhance their understanding and appeal to them to exploit the huge opportunities being provided by the loan scheme, ” Eze said.

     

    NAN

     

     

  • Strikes: FG commences payment of salary, promotion arrears of civil servants

    Strikes: FG commences payment of salary, promotion arrears of civil servants

    Sequel to the enormous strikes that has enveloped some vital sectors of the economy, the Federal Government is set to commence the payment of salary arrears, promotion arrears and other entitlement of civil servants in the country on or before Wednesday, September 20, 2017.

    This was part of the four point agreement reached between the government and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria to avert the proposed strike action by the union.

    However, while the government says that union has agreed to temporarily suspend the strike till Wednesday, President of the union, Bobboi Kaigama said the union was only being proactive, pointing out that if they fail to commence payment on Wednesday, the strike action will begin.

    A communique signed at the end of the meeting by the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Labour, Bolaji Adebiyi and National President of the Association, Bobboi Kaigama said a seven man committee is to be set up to monitor the implementation of the agreement.

    The communique reads: “Following the seven day ultimatum dated 8th September, 2017 issued by the Association of Senior Civil Servant of Nigeria on the issue of non-payment of salary arrears and other entitlements of public servants especially promotion arrears failing which the Association, propose to embark on an industrial action effective from Monday, 18th September, 2017, the Minister of Labour and Employment convened a conciliatory meeting on Tuesday 12th September 2017.

    “Present at this meeting were all the 40 Chapter Chairmen of ASCSN branches and their Secretariat led by the President of ASCSN/TUC-Bobboi Bala Kaigama after an extensive deliberation on the issue of Public Servants unpaid promotion arrears and other entitlements.

    “At the end of the meeting, it was greed that Government will do all that is needed to ensure the commencement of payment of promotion arrears on or before Wednesday 20th September, 2017.

    “It was also agreed that the 30 Ministries, Department & Agencies (MDAs) that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) reported that have been cleared whose payment bill amounts to 1.165billion naira should start to receive credit of payment by Wednesday 20th September, 2017.

    “The OAGF should provide the list of the 30 MDAs that have been cleared to the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment and the Association by Wednesday, 13th September, 2017.

    “A seven man Committee to be chaired by the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment composed of 3 members from the Association and 3 from Government side to midwife, fine tune and monitor the implementation of these decisions.”

    Addressing the union before the commencement of the meeting, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige restated the unflinching commitment of the Buhari administration to the welfare of workers.

    He said: “the arrears in question accumulated for up to a decade but the President very much concerned about the welfare of the citizens resolved to settle the backlog, knowing that government is also a continuum. This is a government that has the interest of workers at heart, the very reason we stoically refused to retrench any civil servant despite dwindling resources we met and worsened by the recession”.

  • Kogi civil servant returns N1.7million paid in excess of salary

    A civil servant in Kogi, Mrs Husseina Mohammed has returned the sum N1, 780,500 paid in excess of her March salary to the coffers of the state government.

    Mohammed said this on Friday in Lokoja while on a courtesy visit to the Director – General, Bureau of Information and Grassrrots Mobilisation, Alhaji Abdulkareem Abdulamlik .

    She said that she received an alert from her bank in the afternoon of May 21 and discovered that a huge sum had been credited in her favour.

    Mohammed said that she immediately called the attention of her husband to the development and a decision was taken to return the money to the coffers of the government.

    The civil servant, who works at the state Teaching Service Commission, said that she started the process of returning the money back to government on May 22, saying that the money was paid into the government account with the Lokoja branch of the Zenith Bank Plc.

    She then handed over the bank teller and other documents used in paying back the money into the government bank account to the Director General

    Mohammed praised Gov. Yahaya Bello for paying her salary up till March, 2017, saying that she was not in any way affected by just concluded staff screening and verification exercise.

    She, however, pleaded with the state government to reciprocate her good gesture by paying the outstanding 15 month salary arrears of her husband, Mr Yakubu Mohammed.

    The civil servant said that the salary of her husband was being withheld for the discrepancy in his age declaration, saying that the discrepancy had since been rectified.

    In his response, the Director- General commended Mohammed for her honesty.

    He said with people like her in the society, Nigeria was sure of winning the ongoing war against corruption.

    The Director -General urged other civil servants and residents of the state to emulate Mrs. Mohammed.

    He said that her good conduct would not go unrewarded, adding that her exemplary conduct would be recorded for generation yet unborn to learn and emulate.

    Abdulmalik also reiterated the resolve of Gov. Yahaya Bello to carry the restructuring of the state civil service to the end.

     

     

     

    NAN

  • Executive Orders: Osinbajo meets civil servants Wednesday

    Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, will on Wednesday meet some mid level and senior government officials as part of strategies to ensure the implementation of the three Executive Orders he signed on Thursday.

    Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, made this known in a statement on Sunday.

    Akande said the present administration would drive the executive orders signed vigorously in its determination to significantly transform the business environment and how government business is done in the country.

    He said the executive order on business environment and promoting “Made in Nigeria” products would be the topic of discussion during Osinbajo’s interactive session with the officials on Wednesday.

    “These (government officials) are the people who will be directly responsible for the attainment of the objectives of the executive orders, so the Acting President wants an opportunity to talk with them directly and also hear from them in person,” Akande said.

    He said effective implementation of the executive orders were critical for the overall prosperity of Nigerians and Nigeria.

  • Change is here, be computer literate or resign – Akeredolu tells civil servants

    Change is here, be computer literate or resign – Akeredolu tells civil servants

    Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has advised civil servants in the state to fit into the information technology age as part of the expected change in his administration or opt out for people who can.

    Akeredolu said his administration would not tolerate computer illiteracy in the state civil service, saying it would better for the service if all the workers were computer literate. He, therefore, asked any worker that is not ready to comply with the use of computer to resign.

    Akeredolu stated this during the inauguration of the Ondo State Integrated Financial Management Information System project in Akure, the state capital.

    The event, held at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the governor’s office, had the state’s top senior civil servants in attendance.

    The governor, who commended the resilience and willingness of the civil servants to work for the good of the state, regardless of the challenges, explained that the SIFMIS project would improve the productivity of the workers.

    He said, “We are starting a change with you because you are the engine room of the government and this government is determined to perform.

    “This project is about being computer literate; it is not to take away your jobs but you must be computer literate to make it effective. If you cannot cope, you can resign; we are not going back again.”

    According to the governor, the SIFMIS project would assist the state in generating more revenue internally and enhance good governance through the application of technology.

    “SIFMIS will support capacity building efforts aimed at erecting an institutional framework for the public service in compliance with international best global practice,” Akeredolu said.

    He urged the civil servants in the state to support and cooperate with the consultant that would train them on the implementation of the SIFMIS project.

    Earlier, in his remarks, the Accountant-General of the state, Mr. Laolu Akindolire, explained that SIFMIS would facilitate complete and timely exchange of data and information among ministries, departments and agencies.

    “In order to strengthen the workforce and bring about efficient service delivery, the state government, with the support of the World Bank, embarked on carrying out the public sector reform programmes.

    “SIFMIS is one of the sub-components of the Ondo State Public Sector Governance Reform Project. As the name implies, it is the warehouse of data for all government business processes.

  • FG launches N13bn mortgage scheme for civil servants

    The Federal Government on Friday launched a N13 billion Federal Civil Servants Mortgage Refinancing Scheme to benefit 5,635 federal civil servants.

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, said at the launch in Abuja that the scheme was in line with government’s overall objective of providing the necessary stimulus to ensure growth in the economy.

    She said that in recognition of the importance of housing, the federal government had in the 2016 Budget provided N40 billion for the implementation of a comprehensive housing scheme.

    “This is to address the housing challenges facing the country, improve the living conditions and welfare of our work-force and people, as well as generate gainful employment for our teeming youths,’’ the minister said.

    Adeosun said that civil servants played an important role in nurturing and developing the nation.

    “It is only fair that those who serve the country can be afforded the opportunity of owning their own homes at retirement.

    “We have to put in place the right incentives as part of our anti-corruption drive to plug leakages,’’ she said.

    She said the scheme was a collaboration steered by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board (FGSHLB).

    The minister said that the Federal Integrated Staff Housing Programme (FISH) and the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company Plc (NMRC) were also part of the collaboration.

    She further said that the ministry had concluded arrangements to provide a complementary and sustainable housing market finance ecosystem to address the challenges of affordable housing.

    Adeosun said that this would be done through Family Homes Fund (FHF) Ltd., an innovative private sector-driven financing programme.

    According to her, the initiative is expected to catalyse funds from the private sector, pension and insurance funds, multilateral agencies and impact investors.

    The minister said the fund would be used to selectively intervene in the areas of developer financing and mortgage provision.

    She said that the scheme was being implemented in partnership with state governments which would contribute land with the necessary approvals.

    Adeosun called on willing investors to explore the investment opportunities and support the federal government’s initiatives towards providing affordable housing for Nigerians.

    The Managing Director, NMRC, Dr Charles Inyanete, said that it was imperative for the public and private sectors to come together to address the country’s housing problem.

    He said that the company had taken the housing value chain approach to deal with the challenges.

    “ We are looking at housing right from where we need to get land titles and infrastructure to support the land.

    “We are happy to see FHF stepping in to really help in providing the construction finance that is critical and in also providing the mortgages that will fit into our refinancing activities.

    “Our mission is to bring down the barriers that prevent home ownership by really providing the liquidity required by making home ownership more affordable and accessible,’ he said.