Otunla, Former AGF Voluntarily Retired with Honours, Not Sacked

Contrary to our report last week that the former Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla was allegedly sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari over N2.5 billion security funds, it has been confirmed that he actually retired on attainment of mandatory exit age of 60 years. We have since found out that the information contained in that story is a misrepresentation of the real situation of things

According letters made available to THISDAY, Otunla indeed notified the Head of Service, Danladi Kifasi in March, 2015, about his being due for retirement on June 12, 2015 when he would have turned 60 which was acknowledged and later approved.

The letter conveying the approval of his retirement was dated June 3, 2015 and referenced HCSF/395/93, titled, Re: Notice of Retirement from Service read in parts, “We write to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 12th March, 2015 on the above subject matter and to convey approval of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for you to retire from the Federal Civil Service with effect from 12th June, 2015 being the date you will attain the mandatory sixty (60) years of age In accordance with the provisions of Public Service Rule 020810.

“This is wishing you success in your future endeavours and hoping that you will oblige the Service, indeed the Nation, whenever there is need to tap from your wealth of experience.

“Please, accept the assurances of my warmest regards and to assure you that the Service and the Nation is ever grateful for your patriotic service to your fatherland”.

The approval was sequel to a letter by Otunla referenced Ref. No.: Al0702/10 of 12th March, 2015 titled, “Notification of retirement”, where he had written to the Head of Service three months ahead of time indicating his attainment of the mandatory retirement age and his willingness to proceed on retirement.

“With sincere gratitude to God Almighty, I write to formally notify the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation that I will be retiring from the Civil Service of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with effect from Friday, 12th June, 2015, on account of attaining the mandatory retirement age of sixty (60) years.

“It is note-worthy that my career in the Nigeria Public Service had a humble beginning in 1989, following my appointment as a Chief Internal Auditor for the Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme. The year 1997 marked a major milestone when I became the Accountant-General of Oyo State, after which I transferred my service to the Federal level in March 2004 as Director of Finance and Accounts in the mainstream Federal Civil Service. It is, indeed, highly fnlfi11ing that Providence propelled me to the very peak of the career in 2011 when I was appointed as the Accountant-General of the Federation.

“I consider it a cherished opportunity to have served at both State and Federal levels. In particular, I owe the Federal Government a debt of gratitude for providing the enabling environment for my career to blossom to its peak. I will continue to appreciate the wide exposure I gained and the wealth of experience acquired, having been privileged to serve in key Federal Establishments, including the National Hospital, Abuja, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Ministry of Defence, the Federal Ministries of Education and Finance, and, finally, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

“While I look forward to my final exit from active Service, I wish to also appreciate - the warm and rewarding working relationship I have shared with the esteemed Chairman and Members of the Body of Federal Permanent Secretaries all this while. May the Service continue to wax stronger for the betterment of Nigeria and to the glory of God."

THISDAY regrets the misrepresentations of the facts concerning Otunla's retirement when it erroneously stated that he was sacked and hereby retracts the publication in its entirety and urges the public to disregard it. We apologise to Otunla for the embarrassment that publication may have caused him and his family.