Agric research suffers setback over refusal of directors to retire

Five directors, three deputy directors and one assistant director of the Council that have clocked 60 years of age or attained 35 years of service still occupy their officers with no sign of them vacating anytime soon.At the Council’s office in Mabushi, Abuja, activities were comatose, as directors abandoned their duties of supervising and coordinating […]

Five directors, three deputy directors and one assistant director of the Council that have clocked 60 years of age or attained 35 years of service still occupy their officers with no sign of them vacating anytime soon.
At the Council’s office in Mabushi, Abuja, activities were comatose, as directors abandoned their duties of supervising and coordinating research institutes and colleges of agriculture and busied themselves with the undue task of lobbying for extension of their tenures.  
Several attempts made by Daily Trust to see the Executive Secretary of the Council Baba Yusuf Abubakar were not successful as formal letters requesting for audience with him were not replied.
However, an official in the office of the executive secretary referred this reporter to the office of the Head of Service where he said the matter was being handled, adding: “We have written to the Head of Service on July 13, 2014 in a letter referenced ARCN/ADM/ES/573, they will brief you there.”
An official at the office of the Head of Service who pleaded anonymity because he has no authority to speak to the press, acknowledged receipt of the letter from the Council and referred the reporter to a reply dated August 12, 2014 with reference number HCSF/CMO/CPA/157/10.
The letter issued by Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido, Director Employee Mobility read in part: “I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter Ref. No: ARCN/ADM/ES/573 dated 3rd July, 2014 on the above subject and inform you that your request for exemption of Research Scientists in the post of Director, Salary Grade Level 17 could not be entertained in view of the fact that it is opposed to government policy and extant regulations contained in the attached circular.
“Accordingly, you are requested to direct the affected officers to comply with the provisions of the relevant circulars on this subject and proceed immediately on retirement from the service to avoid any unpleasant sanction which non-compliance may attract.”
All the nine affected officers were on their duty posts at the time of filing this report.