Head Of Service Accuses MDAs Of Abusing Recruitment Waivers

The head of the civil service of the federation (HoSF), Dr Folashade Esan, has said that ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the federal government have been in the habit of breaching employment waivers approved for them.

Esan stated this when she appeared before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating alleged job racketeering in MDAs and manipulation of the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS) yesterday.

She said sometimes such waivers were offered MDAs when they approached the office of the head of service with complaints on shortage of staff but they usually went back to employ far above the number they requested.

The HoSF said federal universities were the worst culprits of the anomaly, as they embark on employment of non-academic staff which such waivers do not cover, adding that her office had to restrict giving agencies open waivers.

Esan also debunked the allegations that the head of service takes 10 percent from agencies when it comes to jobs.

“Most institutions that violate these waivers are academic institutions, teaching hospitals and others. When given waivers, they employ more non-academic staff than academic staff. That was why we decided whenever they want to recruit; they should write to the National Universities Commission who oversees them directly, then NUC will write to us,” she said.

A witness, Abdulmalik Isa Ahmed, told the committee that the allegation of recruitment against the Federal Character Commission (FCC) was true, as he tendered a copy of his employment since 2021 before the committee, explaining that he was also duly captured under the IPPIS, and had been receiving salaries, even as he was refused posting.

He said, “We are 27 in number that have been captured by IPPIS payroll but Kolo, who collected the money, and the Federal Character Commission have refused to post us”, he said.

The chairman of the FCC, Farida Dankaka, however said that Haruna Kolo was reported to have been working with the FCC for about 10 years before her assumption of office.

“When I heard about Haruna Kolo, I asked that a disciplinary committee should look into his matter. I requested for Kolo to report to the commission but up until today he is nowhere to be found,” she said, adding that she discovered later that the said man must have forged her signature, using the agency’s letterhead papers to issue employment to people.

She also said she was unaware of how he (Kolo) found himself in the employ of AMCON, prompting the Yusuf Gagdi-led committee to summon the AMCON boss, Kolo and the witness for appearance on Friday.