Some workers who described themselves as “Concerned Staff” of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) have petitioned the Presidency over what they called “irregular staff recruitment and placement” in the Council.
A letter addressed to “The President and Commander in Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria”, a copy of which was made available to SHIPS & PORTS DAILY, read in part: “Sir, we are concerned staff of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, a parastatal under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Transportation.
“We are using this opportunity to forward a petition on irregular staff recruitment and placement in the Council. These practices are not in line with the conduct and rules of Civil Service.”
The aggrieved workers cited the case of an Assistant Director (names withheld), whom they said was also being considered for the post of a substantive Director by the NSC management.
They argued the Assistant Director in question “graduated in 1987 and was employed as a Confidential Secretary by the then Managing Director, Dr. Kingsley Usoh but against Civil Service Rules, was placed on GL. 12, even when she “had no working experience in the Public Sector before this appointment”.
“She only had a short stint in the private sector,” they stated.
They said shorty after she was employed and against the procedure guiding the Scheme of Service, she “was migrated from the position of a Confidential Secretary to Officers Cadre”, while in 2003, she “sat for the promotion examination from GL. 14 to GL. 15 and did not perform well enough to be promoted”.
“Your Excellency, we want to say that this examination remains the only examination process that she has ever gone through in the Council!
According to the petition, with effect from 1st July 2007, she was “promoted to the position of Assistant Director. However, it must be made clear that this promotion was backdated to 2003 even though she did not perform well to be promoted then”, while she was “promoted to the position of the Deputy Director notionally with effect from 1st January 2008”.
“Your Excellency, our decision to request for the intervention of your office in addressing the wrong doings in the Nigerian Shippers’ Council is due to our firm belief that your administration is committed to a zero level of tolerance for corruption.
“We believe that the acts of favoritism and abuse of privileges going on in our organization are symbols of corruption.
“Your Excellency, our prayer is that you use your good offices to direct the Head of Service of the Federation to conduct a COMPREHENSIVE STAFF AUDIT and PROPER PLACEMENT of Council’s directorate cadre from GL. 15 – GL. 17.
“We thank you for your intervention and we pray that Allah will continue to guide you as you steer the affairs of our great nation,” the petitioners declared.
The petition was also copied to the Head of Service of the Federation, the Minister of Transportation and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation.
When SHIPS &PORTS DAILY sought the reaction of the Deputy Director/Head, Public Affairs of the NSC on the workers’ petition, he declined to comment.
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