National Electoral Commission,
INEC, Mr. Kayode Idowu, has
debunked reports that INEC
Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega,
would proceed on terminal leave
on 1 March this year.
Idowu, who spoke on a TV
programme monitored in Lagos,
southwest Nigeria, on Tuesday, said
Jega’s appointment was not guided
by civil service rules and so he
would serve until his tenure elapses
on 30 June this year.
After the postponement of the
elections last weekend, there have
been reports that President
Goodluck Jonathan’s next move is
to relieve Jega of his job and
replace him with a pliant person to
conduct the elections.
Idowu also said the ballot papers
for Nigeria’s presidential election
scheduled to hold on 28 March
were ready.
He said the ballot papers had been
delivered by the printers and that
they were being kept in the vault of
the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He also disclosed that thousands of
ad hoc staff were being trained for
the elections initially billed to take
place on 14 and 28 February but
shifted to 28 March and 11 April.
He said the postponement would
allow INEC perfect its preparations
for the polls, adding that there can
never be 100% preparations for an
election since things continue to
change until the last day of the
polls.
But Idowu may not be right after
all on reports that Jega may be
asked to proceed on terminal leave
in March.
A Federal civil service circular,
issued by former head of service,
Alhaji Isa Bello Sali entitled, ‘Three
Months pre-retirement/terminal
leave’ made no distinction as to
whether one is a career civil
servant or a political appointee.
According to the circular, “It has
been observed that the mandatory
notice of retirement for officers
who are due to retire is not being
observed as provided for in the
extant rules. Accordingly, it has
become necessary to reiterate the
provisions of Public Service Rules
(PSR) 100238 which states that
officers are required to give three
months notice of their retirement
from service terminating on the
effective date of their retirement”
The circular was addressed and
sent to the Chief of Staff to the
President, Chief Justice of the
Federation, all Ministers, Secretary
to the Government of the
Federation, Service Chiefs, the
Inspector-General of Police,
Chairman Federal Civil Service
Commission, the Chairman,
Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC), and the
Chairman of Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC).
Others are Heads of extra-
ministerial departments, the
Accountant-General of the
Federation, Auditor-General of the
Federation, Surveyor-General of the
Federation, Directors-General/chief
executives of parastatals and
agencies.
Jega’s predecessor, Prof Maurice
Iwu. Iwu’s tenure was due to expire
on June 13, 2010. However, on
April 28, 2010, then acting
President Jonathan, ordered Iwu to
proceed on terminal leave.
Former IGP Abubakar’s tenure was
due to end on July 30, 2014 but he
proceeded or was sent on terminal
leave on May 12, 2014. Former
Chief Justice of the Federation,
Justice Dahiru Musdapher
voluntarily proceeded on terminal
leave three months before the
constitutional or mathematical end
of his tenure.
