Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi: yet to assume office after Tinubu’s approval…
Just a week after the appointment of the new Accountant-General of the Federation (AG-F), Mr. Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi, there is a plot to stop him from assuming office.
The latest row is over the misinterpretation of Section120243 of the Federal Government Public Service Rules.
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation was said to have “wrongly” advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against appointing a new AG-F before March when former holder, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Madein’s tenure will end.
But going by the Public Service Rules, Mrs. Madein ought to have proceeded on pre-retirement leave from December 7.
The outgoing AG-F has not given three-month notice of retirement.
She has also yet to initiate official procedure of handing over to the new AG-F.
Mrs. Madein, who is sticking to her tenure, wants to remain in office till March 7 as the substantive AG-F.
According to Section 120243 of the Federal Government Public Service Rules, Mrs. Madein was expected to have handed over to her successor.
It says: “Officers are required to give three months’ notice to retire from Service before the effective date of retirement.
“At the commencement of three months, officers should proceed immediately on the mandatory one-month pre-retirement workshop/seminar.
“For the remaining two months, retiring officers are expected to take necessary measures to put their records straight so as to facilitate the speedy processing of their retirement benefits.”
A source said: “There is a plot to reverse the appointment of Ogunjimi by turning the Public Service Rules upside down.
“The new AG-F has collected his letter of appointment, but he has been locked out of the office because the retiring AGF insisted that her tenure will end on March 7. To avoid conflict, the Office of the HoCSF has sent an advisory to the president to stay action on Ogunjimi’s appointment.
“Going by the Federal Government Service Rules, former AG-F is expected to hand over and proceed on pre-retirement leave. But the new AG-F is kept in limbo and asked to wait for three months before the assumption of duties.
‘The President was courteous enough to accord the former AG-F statutory respect, but she is trying to turn the rules upside down.
“By the Presidential announcement of a new AG-F, Madein’s tenure has ended.It will amount to living in a fool’s paradise to assume that she is still the AG-F.
“Barrister Danladi Kifasi was Head of Service under Buhari. He gave three months’ notice and retired. There is a need for consistency and time to eschew nepotism.”
● Salary crisis looms as controversy rocks OAGF
This crisis may delay the payment of the December salaries for federal workers. It was learnt on Wednesday.
Investigations by The Nation showed that workers in the OAGF are sharply divided between loyalists of Madein and Ogunjimi.
It was gathered that Madein’s loyalists have reportedly prevented Ogunjimi from assuming duties, forcing him to operate from his previous position as Director of Funds.
The impasse between the rival camps is hampering operations at the OAGF, where the AGF’s role is crucial for approving salary payments and disbursements to ministries, departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
With less than a week to Christmas, the gridlock has reportedly disrupted fund releases, raising concerns among civil servants who are eagerly awaiting their December salaries.
An official of the OAGF described the situation as precarious, warning that the ongoing controversy could escalate if not promptly resolved.
Efforts to obtain an official comment were unsuccessful, as the OAGF’s spokesperson, Mr. Bawa Mokwa said he was attending a retreat in Kaduna and was unable to address the issue.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on December 10th, appointed Ogunjimi as the Acting Accountant General of the Federation (AG-F).
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga said: “His (Ogunjimi) appointment is effective immediately following the pre-retirement leave of the incumbent AG-F, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein.”
[Credit: The Nation]