Senate directs PTAD to recall sacked directors

The Senate has directed the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to recall and reinstate as contract staff five directors sacked by the directorate last year.

PTAD sacked the directors over employment irregularities uncovered during a staff audit authorised by the Head of Service of the Federation, upon the request of the Executive Secretary of the Directorate, Sharon Ikeazor.

A letter from the Senate dated January 26, 2018, signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Ataba Sani-Omolori, addressed to Executive Secretary of PTAD, stated that appointments of the directors should be regularised by converting them to contract staff as their conversion would not be a breach of public service rules.

Daily Trust learnt that the affected directors were employed by the former ES, Mrs Nellie Mayshak in error, since they were beyond 50 years of age at the time of employment against a public service rule that says you cannot appoint a 50-year-old and above into a regular civil service appointment.

However, the Senate, having considered a petition by Mr Atiku Saleh and three others affected by the sack at its sitting of January 23, 2018, resolved that they should be reengaged “In view of the fact that the nation is battling to have its citizens actively engaged in gainful employment.”

The directors sacked were; Godson Ukpevo of the Civil Service Pension Department; Uloma Uruakpa of Custom, Immigration and Prison’s Department; Taiwo Ogundipe in charge of Parastatal Department; Atiku Dambatta of Police Pension Department and Roz Ben-Okagbue of Pension Support Services Department.