From Esther Akaa, Lafia
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Nasarawa State chapter has kicked against the appointments of persons outside the core civil service as Permanent Secretaries in the state.
The state Chairman of ASCSN, Comrade Haruna Ewa, stated this on Tuesday at a one-day seminar for its members from different affiliates, held in Lafia.
According to him, the appointment of persons outside the civil service with no requisite experience to serve as PS was one of the factors responsible for low productivity, thereby destroying the service which is the engine room of government.
“This if allowed to continue, would bring about permanent stagnation of civil servants, who are working hard to reach the peak of their careers,” he said.
He also kicked against the extension of the tenure of civil servants beyond the mandatory 35 years of service or 60 years of age.
Speaking on the significance of the seminar, Ewa said the association had instituted an annual seminar within the past 10 years aimed at building the capacities of members to encourage productivity.
He noted that the participants over the years have been equipped with knowledge on the operation of labour movements and how to relate with the government to ensure better welfare for workers.
Also speaking, the state Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comr. Yusuf Iya, said the seminar was apt giving its theme: ‘Preserving the Civil Service for the Benefit of the state: The Role of Trade Unions.’
Iya commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for putting smiles and giving hope of career progression to the workers in the state.
He, however, called on the state government to return to the negotiation table to conclude the discussions on the consequential adjustment in respect to the implementation of minimum wage, as well as adopt the contributing pension scheme, saying that the current system was causing a lot of hardship to retirees.
On his part, state Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Mohammed Doma, lauded the association for the initiative aimed at keeping members abreast with current happenings.
He also commended Governor Abdullahi Sule-led administration for implementing some of the outstanding promotions of workers after more than ten years.
Doma, however, called on the government to withdraw the circular that workers most write and pass promotion examination before the get their outstanding promotions.
“These promotions were outstanding and workers cannot sit for any examination before they get their outstanding promotions.
“Implement all the outstanding promotions first, then we can be on the same page to obey whatever the government wants us to do going forward,” he said.
The Voice reports that the seminar featured presentation of papers by resource persons as well as questions and answers session by participants.