By Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
The Coalition of Civil Societies For Equity, Justice, And Good Governance, staged a protest in Abuja on Thursday.
They asked the Senate to investigate the activities of the Head of the Federal Civil Service, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan.
They displayed placards bearing unprintable allegations against the HoS.
The groups claimed that the secret recruitments allegedly being carried out under her watch were affecting some federal higher institutions.
The Co-Convener of the COSSEJGG, Mr. Danesi Momoh, who addressed journalists after the protests, said the Senate probe became inevitable since Yemi-Esan, had refused to resign her appointment.
The groups had last week given a one-week ultimatum, to Yemi-Esan to resign her appointment or risk mass protests.
They converged on the Unity Fountain in the nation’s capital on Thursday and asked the Senate to intervene in the situation.
Momoh said, “Recall that the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had not so long ago queried the Head of Service because of the numerous complaints received against her by Nigerians.
“Her inability to heed the warning of the Senate and stop her anti-people and anti-government policies is enough confirmation that she is consumed only by her selfish desires and not national service.
“This is also a clear case of arrogance and blatant disregard for the rule of law. Something must be done to put an end to this ugly trend. The Senate should investigate her activities in the best interest of the nation.
“Enough is enough. If this situation is not dealt with decisively, the office of Head of Service will rank high as the most corrupt establishment before the end of the tenure. This we must not allow happen.
Momoh said the coalition of civil society activists would from Monday next week block the office of the HoS if she refused to vacate her seat.
He said, “Consequently, we hereby give final warning that within five days if the Head of Service fails to honorably resign or the Federal Government fails to sack her from office, we will be left with no other alternative than to mobilize and block the office until the right thing is done.”
The CSOs lamented that many federal government-owned higher institutions in the country might soon lose accreditation on some courses as a result of the alleged refusal of the HoS to give them waivers to recruit qualified lecturers.
Momoh said, “It is on record that many universities have failed their accreditation and re-accreditation because the Head of the service has blocked the employment process.
“These are critical manpower needs that are not supposed to be politicized.
” The University of Abuja, Federal University Lokoja, University of Calabar, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and Federal University Wukari are likely to end up wasting the time of students since their certificates won’t be recognized.”
The HoS had in an interview with our correspondent last week through the Head of the Media Office, Mr. Abdulganiyu Aminu, described the allegations against Yemi-Esan as malicious.
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He said the HoS had no legal right to carry out any form of recruitment.
He said the office merely issue guidelines to agencies on the procedure to follow in their recruitment drive.
Aminu said, “There is an embargo placed on employment as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is not the office of the HoS that placed the embargo.
“However, critical sectors like health, security, and higher institutions were exempted. Some of the affected sectors were being given waivers to recruit.
“It will be mischievous, malicious, and wicked to say that the office of the HoS is engaging in secret recruitment. Nothing can be farther than the truth like that.
“It is cheap blackmail and baseless allegation because the office of the HoS is not a recruitment agency.
“It only issues guidelines on the establishment to the agencies to follow due procedure in their recruitment drive,” Aminu added
