No pension for former governors, deputies –Delegates

The delegates adopted the recommendation made by the committee on public service headed by Engineer Ebele Okeke with Ambassador Adamu Aliyu as deputy chairman. The conference also agreed that payment of pension, life insurance and severance allowances where such existed are to be cancelled in line with what has been described as global best practices. Former lawmakers […]

The delegates adopted the recommendation made by the committee on public service headed by Engineer Ebele Okeke with Ambassador Adamu Aliyu as deputy chairman.
 The conference also agreed that payment of pension, life insurance and severance allowances where such existed are to be cancelled in line with what has been described as global best practices.
 Former lawmakers at the conference were quick to kick against the decision arguing that holding a political office is not the same as being a career public servant; and that the legislature as presently constituted is operating on part-time basis because members do not sit for a whole week.
 It was decided also that former state governors and their deputies are to be exempted from receiving severance allowances, life insurance and payment of pension.
 Also, it was resolved that each state of the federation should have its own State Character Commission to protect the interest of minority ethnic groups in the state.
This implies that minority groups in the 36 states of the federation would soon enjoy equal treatment in appointments into public service of their different states.
 Conference said its position is meant to address the obvious restrictions to the application of the Federal Character Principles at the state and local government levels.
 It was agreed that transfers into the directorate level of the civil service from outside be prohibited while there should be mandatory training as a basis for consideration for promotion to the middle management level of the service.
 The delegates accepted unanimously the committee’s recommendation for the creation of a separate Foreign Service Commission with a chairman and six commissioners, one of whom should be from each of the six geo-political zones.
 For the disabled persons, the delegates agreed that efforts be made by government at all levels to make public offices disability-friendly by providing special access facilities in line with international charters and treaties.
 It also recommended that every Appropriation Bill sent to the National Assembly should include key performance indicators and effective sanctions for non-performance.
 In addition, it said a new study of job content and pay structure of both the public and the private sectors should be swiftly undertaken to ensure that comparable work in the public sector vis-à-vis the private sector attracts comparable pay.