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Employment scam: Reps set to probe State House, MDAs over falsification of credentials, others
****Summon Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Head of Service of the Federation
John Akubo
Some serving Permanent Secretaries, Directors, and Assistant Directors in the State House and other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government have been alleged to have falsified their age, date of birth, and other vital credentials such as West African Examination Council (WAEC) and Tertiary Institutions results.
In line with that, the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has invited the Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission, and Head of Service for the Federation to appear before it.
The invitations were sent by the Chairman, House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Jerry Alagbaso via two separate letters titled: ‘Request for names and personnel records’, with Reference No: NASS/9HR/CT.5 and dated 29th March 2022.
The invitation reads: “The above Committee is investigating a petition laid on the floor of our Chambers on 29th March 2022 regarding the falsifications and doctoring of ages, dates of Births, and vital credentials of some Permanent Secretaries, Directors, and Deputy Directors of MDAs and Parastatals as well as unauthorized extensions of service ensures by the Federal Civil Service Commission and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation between 2015 – 2022.
“It is against the above background that we established the need to reach your office. Thus, we wish to request that you furnish the House of Representatives, Committee on Public Petitions within five (5) days with the names of all the Permanent Secretaries, Directors, and Deputy Directors in all the Federal Ministries, Agencies, and Parastatals and of course their present postings and those (if any) on the extension of tenures.
You are to submit five (5) copies of the above requests to the House of Representatives meeting Room 429, New Wing OR office No. 0.42 ground floor.”
The proposed investigative hearing was coming following the petition dated 11th March 2021 initiated by a Civil Society Organisation, Anti Corruption, and Integrity Forum addressed to the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and read on the floor of the House.
The 3-page petition was co-signed by Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum’s President and Secretary, Dickson Sola Williams, and Victoria Abam.
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The Petitioners who solicited the House intervention called for an investigation into the aforementioned allegations, including the unauthorized extension of service tenures by the Federal Civil Service Commission and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation between 2015 and 2022.
“The Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum is an organization formed to advocate for transparency and accountability as well as protect the interest of Nigerians with regards to governance and government and associated issues.
“That considering the various efforts of government at combating corruption and other vices in Nigeria, we are determined to assist the government to realize her objectives in that regard by holing government officers as well as heads of private organizations accountable for their actions in and out of office. And for us, there is no hiding place or place for any officer who betrayed the public trust.
“In the light of all these, we wish to ask the House of Representatives through her Committee on Public Petitions to investigate the various allegations of irregularities and illegalities being perpetrated by Permanent Secretaries, Directors, and Assistant Directors in the Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Parastatals and supervised by Federal Civil Service Commission and Head of Civil Service of the Federation between 2015 – 2022.
“We the petitioners through an intelligence gathering and research have discovered falsification and doctoring of documents by some Permanent Secretaries, Directors and Assistant Directors in the various Ministries like Ministries of Agric, Sports, Head of Service office manned by I. A. Mairiga, Public Service Commission – especially the office of recruitment and appointment manned by Ibrahim Anjuga, State House Asokoro, Ministries of Power, Environment, Special Duties, Labour and Productivity and some Agencies and Parastatals.
“That surprisingly the above irregularities are being superintended knowingly or unknowingly by the Federal Civil Service Commission (Recruitment and Appointment Section).
“Therefore, Mr. Speaker, your Committee on Public Petitions must unravel these irregularities by requesting the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service and the Head of Service to produce a comprehensive list of the Permanent Secretaries, Directors, and Assistant Directors in the above Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Parastatals for scrutiny and investigation.
“Mr. Speaker, those who enjoying extensions of contract or contract appointments either as Permanent Secretaries, Directors, and Assistant Directors from 2015 – 2022/23 in various areas said to be ‘in the public interest’ are to be submitted to the Public Petitions Committee for proper verifications and investigation in a public hearing where we intend to produce relevant names and documents.
“Mr. Speaker, there are various outcries today among some serving senior officials of the different ministries, departments, agencies, and parastatals where there are snail-speed promotions and upward mobilities because some Permanent Secretaries, Directors, and Assistant Directors refused to retire statutorily on attainments of 60 years or after serving for 35 years. Rather they stay put through falsification and doctoring of their credentials or year of employment thereby preventing others from upward service mobility.
“Mr. Speaker, for the public interest, we request a televised public investigation of most of the Permanent Secretaries and Directors cum their Assistants where their Secondary School or Teachers Training Schools Certificates will be produced and scrutinized – by marrying them with their various University Degrees.
“Considering the zero corruption dispositions of president Buhari and House of Representatives under the able leadership of Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, we hereby call on the House of Representatives through her Committee on Public Petitions to look into these allegations and painstakingly investigate them to ensure that all those found culpable to any of the above irregularities are referred to the relevant authorities for prosecution and imprisonment for their criminal activities in the service of our nation,” the Petitioner urged,” the petition read.
Pope Francis will on Sunday be discharged from Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he has been receiving treatment since February 14 for breathing difficulties and pneumonia.
The 88-year-old pontiff will return to his residence at Saint Martha’s House in the Vatican, where doctors have advised that he undergo “a long convalescence… of at least two months.”
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Dr. Sergio Alfieri explained that while the pope’s health is improving, further recovery is best achieved at home.
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“Further progress will take place at his home, because a hospital — even if this seems strange — is the worst place to recover because it’s where one can contract more infections,” Alfieri said.
Dr. Luca Carbone, another physician at Gemelli, added that there are positive signs in the pope’s condition. “We hope that he will soon be able to resume his normal activities,” he stated.
Before leaving the hospital, Pope Francis is expected to greet the public and offer a blessing from a hospital balcony after the Angelus prayers on Sunday, marking his first appearance in weeks.
Speculation about a possible resignation has been circulating due to the pope’s prolonged absence from public duties, but Vatican officials have firmly denied such claims.
When asked if the topic had been discussed, Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin was clear in his response: “No, no, no, absolutely not.”
The pope, who had part of a lung removed in his youth, has received an outpouring of prayers and well-wishes from Catholics worldwide.
Supporters have been gathering outside Gemelli hospital, leaving flowers, candles, and messages of encouragement.
His hospitalization, the longest of his papacy has led to questions about how Easter celebrations will be handled in his absence.
However, Vatican officials remain optimistic about his gradual return to his duties in the coming weeks.
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has assured the people of Ilobu and Ifon communities that speedy conflict resolution steps are being taken to restore peace even as he expressed directed the emergency services agency to activate its operations
He gave the assurances in response to a Save Our Soul message from the people of Ilobu and Ifon.
Gov Adeleke said his administration has re-strategized on resolving the conflict with multiple peacebuilding options which are being unveiled and implemented.
“I assure the people of Ilobu and Ifon that I am committed to securing their lives and properties. I have updated the presidency of development in the state. We are on top of the situation”, the governor was quoted as saying.
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Meanwhile, we seek to bring to the attention of the public that old videos of communal conflicts in some parts of Osun state are being circulated by opposition elements to spread false pictures of insecurity in Osun State.
While the ongoing conflict is regrettable and while all hands are on deck to stop the violence, we inform the public to take note of the activities of fake news merchants who are digging up old videos to discredit the state government.
The videos being circulated of violence in other towns and villages in Osun are fake news and should be disregarded by the members of the public.
Gov Adeleke has stepped up conflict de-escalation moves on Ifon- Ilobu conflict, imposing a 24-hour curfew, mobilising joint security task force and hosting a peace deal between the two warring communities.
Following the escalation of the crisis between the warring communities of Ilobu and Ifon, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has approved that the curfew be extended to Erin-Osun town.
According to a government house statement in Osogbo, on Saturday, the curfew time is now 24 hours daily.
The statement has it that this is as the Governor directs all security agencies such as the Military, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp NSCDC, Immigration, NDLEA, and AMOTEKUN among others to extend its security surveillance to the community.
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All the security agencies are to ensure strict compliance to the curfew, which is now 24 hours daily until peace is restored.
The imposed curfew was necessary to forestall escalation of the crisis and breakdown of law and order due to the communal clashes in the communities.
According to the statement by Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, where Governor Adeleke was quoted as expressing dissatisfaction over the resurgence of the crisis in the warring communities. The curfew on Ifon-Ilobu Communities has now been extended to the Erin-Osun community until further notice.
“His Excellency, Governor Ademola Adeleke is saddened at the escalation of the communal clashes between Ilobu and Ifon communities.
“To ensure that the crisis is curbed in the environment, the Governor has approved that the curfew be extended to Erin-Osun community and the curfew time is now 24-hours daily, effective immediately (today March 22, 2025) until further notice.”
Gov Adeleke has further directed that the joint security team comprising the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police, Nigerian Immigration Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NDLEA and AMOTEKUN among others to continue to maintain their usual 24-hour surveillance and forestall breakdown of law and order.
“The Governor expresses his sympathy on lives and property lost in the escalated communal crisis and assures that perpetrators will face the wrath of law,” he said.
He added that “Osun State is a place of peace and harmony, and the government will not allow it to be truncated. This communal clash has to stop now, and we will ensure that it happens.
“I urge everyone to imbibe the ethos of Omoluabi and shun communal crisis, embrace peaceful co-existence as brothers and sisters, the statement concludes.
Pope Francis To Return To Vatican After Month-Long Treatment
Ifon-Ilobu Crisis: Adeleke Assures Of Quick Restoration Of Peace
Ifon-Ilobu Communal Dispute: Adeleke Extends Curfew To Erin-Osun Town
Okpebholo Joyful As Work On Edo State’s 1st Flyover Bridge Reaches Advanced Stage
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