Withdraw extension of service of HoS, CDHR tells Adeleke

From Lateef Dada, Osogbo

A Non-Governmental Organization, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), has called on Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State to withdraw the extension of the tenure of the Head of Service (HoS).

The group raised alarm over alleged ‘noncompliance and total disregard’ to the Public Service Rule (PSR) of Osun State by the Head of Service, Mr. Samuel Ayanleye Aina, and an attempt by the outgoing Accountant General of the state, Mr. Rasheed Olalere Alabi, to circumvent the rule.

In a letter written to the House of Assembly by the state chairman of CDHR, Comrade Emmanuel Olowu, and copied the governor, deputy, SSG, HoS, Accountant General, Civil Service Commission Chairman, Commissioner of Police, and DSS, a copy of which was made available to Daily Sun on Tuesday, the group said “the governor had approved the extension of the year of service of the HOS, Mr. Samuel Ayanleye Aina, via a letter dated December 4, 2023, but the approval came to public knowledge a month later, with an announcement by the Spokesperson to the Governor on January 27, 2024.

According to CDHR, “extension of the year of service of retired public officers is alien to the Osun Public Service Rule (PSR). It is gradually becoming a norm if not checked. This promotes subversion of the standard of the Osun Public Service Rule (PSR), creeping career progression, encouraging corrupt practices, and promoting Nepotism, among other vices. If this is not stopped now, Osun State and Civil Service will be subjected to a State of misrule.

“Our organization is aware that the Head of Service and the Accountant General were to submit their letters of retirement six months before their retirement age.
The Head of Service, Mr Ayanleye Aina was to retire on January 24, 2024, when he clocked 60 years, while the Accountant General, is due for retirement on 14th March 2024 when he will be attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60 years.”

The group, among others, asked the legislators to investigate why the Accountant General and other Permanent Secretaries whose retirements are less than six months have yet to submit their letter of retirement as stated in the Public Service Rule.

“That Governor Adeleke should instruct the office of the Head of Service to put his words into mediums of communication within civil service as a circular letter to deny any plan to extend the year of Service of the retiring Permanent Secretaries who include the Accountant General, The Auditor Generals, Surveyor General, Statistician General, and the likes, and that whoever has reached the age of 60 or spent 35 years in service should go on retirement without further delay.

“For the sake of posterity, the Governor should withdraw (not reduce) the three-year extension of service given to the Head of Service, Mr Ayanleye Aina,” the group said.