Union Petitions Tinubu Over Appointment Of ASCON DG

The Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) has called on President Bola Tinubu to rescind Mrs. Funke Adepoju’s purported appointment as the director general/chief executive of the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON).

The secretary general of ASURI, Prof Theophilus Ndubuaku, said the union and other stakeholders were shocked at Mrs. Adepoju’s purported appointment, whom they described as “an external candidate.”

In a letter dated 2nd May 2025 with Ref. No.ASN/PBAT/ASCON/0525/01, the union, wants Tinubu to reconsider the move “in the interest of justice, equity, institutional integrity, and adherence to established rules,” adding that the appointment, if confirmed, would contravene extant guidelines and policies on the appointment of heads of research and training institutions such as ASCON.

In ASURI’s letter, titled, “Petition Against The Purported Appointment Of Mrs Funke Adepoju As Director General Of The Administrative Staff College Of Nigeria (ASCON), Topo, Badagry, And A Humble Request To Uphold Due Process And Federal Regulations,” signed by its secretary general, Prof Theophilus Ndubuaku, the union doubted if President Tinubu approved the appointment.

It read, “We dare to state that the appointment could not have had the blessing of Mr President as the process falls far short of due process, which the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administration upholds: no advertisement of the vacancy, no shortlisting, no written or oral examination and no interview.”

The union directed that the substantive director general be appointed from among the qualified internal directors of ASCON, in accordance with conditions of service for Federal Research and Development Agencies, Institutes and Colleges (COS 2019) and the 23rd November 2017 Circular of the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) with Ref. No. SGF/OP/1/S.3/T on appointment of chief executives; and uphold the principles of justice, internal progression, and continuity that the federal government has consistently espoused in the administration of its institutions.

Prof Ndubuaku noted that the union had earlier commended the head of the civil service of the federation (HCSF) for following the guidelines in appointing one of the college directors in acting capacity after the tenure of the immediate past director general.

Recall in a letter dated 24th April, 2025, with Ref. No. ASN/OHCSF/ASCON/0425/01, the union had commended the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) for adhering to due process in appointing Mr Olutunde Oladele Eniaiyejuni, who had been deputising for the former director general for eight years as acting chief executive upon the expiration of Mrs Cecilia Umaru Gaya’s tenure on 9th April 2025.

It urged the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) to commence and adhere to the due process for appointing the substantive chief executive.

The union had noted in its letter to HCSF that the appointment of the overseeing DG conformed with Chapter 2, Section 2.1.2 D-ii of COS 2019, which states: “In the event of exit or temporary absence of the substantive director general, the most senior research director shall oversee the affairs of the College pending the appointment of a substantive head.”

It also urged the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to be guided in process of appointing the substantive chief executive by the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 2.1.3.3(c) of COS 2019 which states: “The Selection Committee shall first consider the claims of outstanding and meritorious Directors in the institution concerned who fall within the field of selection, for recommendation in their order of relative eligibility.”

In addition, the SGF Circular, with Ref. No. SGF/OP/1/S.3/T, titled, “Procedure For Appointing Chief Executives And Heads Of Parastatals, Government-Owned Companies, Agencies And Institutions,” which ASURI also relied on to back up its claim, provides in Paragraphs 3(ii) and (iii) that: “Appointments… must be based on strict adherence to the principle of justice, equity and fair play”; and

“To ensure stability, continuity and improvement of staff morale, serving officers shall be encouraged to aspire to top positions of their establishments through effective career development and succession planning.”

ASURI said ASCON has nurtured a committed cadre of professionals with deep institutional memory, technical expertise, and a profound understanding of the college’s mandate for decades.

It said to bypass these qualified internal candidates in favour of an external individual would constitute a demoralising breach of both the letter and spirit of the federal government’s policies on public sector career progression, institutional development, and succession planning.