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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) (1362 Views)
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I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by suleiman16(m): 6:37am On Oct 11, 2013 |
Exactly 20 years ago in October 1993, I received the Best Writer and Researcher Award while serving as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Delta State. Impressed by some of my writings and research efforts, Governor Olorogun Felix Ibru consequently offered me automatic employment in the Government House, Asaba as Public Relations Officer in the state Civil Service. A few months later, another double award of automatic scholarship and NYSC National Honours Award was announced for me by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The honour by the Federal Government also went with an offer of automatic employment in the federal civil service that was not subject to either federal character principle or space availability. Since then I had found myself working in various organisations as either Press Secretary or Head of Public Relations as I continued to write official Press Releases and personal opinion articles. Some of those organisations include Federal Ministries of Information, Finance, Health, National Assembly, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), National Press Centre and finally National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Since April 2013 when I was recalled from NEMA due to the influence of Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who had earlier spoken to me on phone alleging that I accused her wrongly in one of my writings, I had made up my mind about the civil service that I had served diligently and professionally without allowing myself to be influenced or intimidated by anyone. In the course of these past months, my salary was suddenly stopped without any official notification to that effect. I had been summoned, issued letters of queries and confronted with verbal threats in the vain hope that I would retract the write-up and tender an apology. Of course, I stood my grounds in the same way that I had politely declined the minister’s request during the telephone conversation. Finally on Thursday October 3, 2013, I received a letter of retirement from the Federal Civil Service, which was backdated to June 20, 2013. Though the letter erroneously referred to me as Assistant Chief Information Officer (ACIO) (because as of fact, I had been promoted a Chief Information Officer (CIO) with effect from January 1, 2012), it contained the charge that I was retired for criticising a public officer. After consultation with my family members, all of who believe that my life is more precious than political and administrative scheming, I accepted my disengagement from the civil service effective today (October 9, 2013) leaving my traducers in the ultimate court of the creator. I must extend my gratitude to the government of the state where I started my journey in the civil service and its people and to the Federal Government for finding me worthy to be a civil servant of the Federal Republic and allowing me to serve in various capacities in the last twenty years. I have received tremendous support and encouragement from editors of both mainstream media and publishers of online media across the country all of who also showed keen interest in the recent development. I will never be able to show enough gratitude to you all. I understand the weaknesses inherent in the public service but must express tremendous appreciation for the concern and understanding displayed by some officers in the public service and top members of the Federal Civil Service Commission. For personal reasons, I declined to accede to their friendly advice that I should take certain actions that might enable me keep my job in the service but which I believe would assail my conscience. Finally, I thank all my colleagues, friends and admirers who have been my pillars of support. I put my trust in God Almighty and rest assured in the solemn belief that Nigeria shall be great. Yushau Shuaib |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by phillippiano(m): 6:43am On Oct 11, 2013 |
k |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by sammiy: 6:50am On Oct 11, 2013 |
Team #realmen#. Every single thing in this country is politize. Smh |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by DesChyko1(m): 6:53am On Oct 11, 2013 |
In a country so corrupt such that one must look left and right before accepting any information dispensed, how can we know who is telling the truth now? |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by geefasee: 6:58am On Oct 11, 2013 |
but no be okonjo sack yu na |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by Nobody: 7:23am On Oct 11, 2013 |
Be more careful in your post-service activism. You can still be sacked there you know? |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by Nobody: 7:28am On Oct 11, 2013 |
Wish you patience and gudluck |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by fkaz(m): 7:44am On Oct 11, 2013 |
Whatelse can one say, than to wish you the best in whatever you believe in. |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by Nobody: 7:51am On Oct 11, 2013 |
Here's the article that got Yushai sacked, I think he had it coming tho....it was unethical of a civil servant to criticize as such Yushau A. Shuaib: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala And The Controversial Appointments By Yushau A. Shuaib on March 6, 2013 I still wonder how the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and the Honourable Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala is in the eye of the storm. Her grandiose title is not a mere tautology as some people will assume. Being the first holder of that title in Nigeria’s history, her position could be seen as equivalent to Prime Minister, which gave her the mandate to oversee and superintend over every other ministry, department and agency of government including their budgetary allocations and revenue expenditures. She is invariably the next most powerful cabinet member after President Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo. In the last ten years, this writer is one of her ardent admirers who is impressed by her academic accomplishments and enviable working experiences on the international scene including her contributions to Nigeria’s economic development after her appointment as the first female Finance Minister and later first female Foreign Affairs Minister by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003 and 2006. Though she left the administration unceremoniously over personal issues, her tenure then was a success story. One of the major reasons some of us believe strongly in ability of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala was the way and manner she carried major players both from the North and the South along while she were Minister of Finance between 2003 and 2006. She was never accused of discrimination or bias against any of the diverse groups of the ethnically charged and religiously polarized nation. The same will be said of her then principal, Olusegun Obasanjo who, despite some of his shortcomings will never be accused of tribalism. He is a detribalized leader and a nationalist to the core who believe strongly in the Nigeria project. The choice of her nominees into top public appointments and even the composition of her associates cut across every segment of Nigeria including those in her Economic Team like Nasir Elrufai, Nuhu Ribadu, Bode Agusto, Dr. Mansur Mukhtar and Chukwuma Soludo among others. Her achievements too were glaring. We recall that in 2005 she led Nigeria to striking a deal with the Paris Club, a group of bilateral creditors, to pay a portion of Nigeria’s external debt amounting US $12 billion in return for an $18 billion debt write-off. She ensured transparency in monthly federation account allocation by the introduction of monthly publication of the disbursements in selected media. She was instrumental to helping Nigeria obtain its first ever sovereign credit rating (of BB minus) from an international ratings agency. Even when she left the government in 2006, her nongovernmental organisation, NOI Global Consulting, partnered with the Gallup Organization to introduce what may be described as the first credible opinion poll, the NOI poll, into the Nigerian polity. With these at the background, it was not surprising that when she were reappointed by President Jonathan as Finance Minister and when she were shortlisted for the post of President of the World Bank in 2012, she received overwhelming support from all Nigerians. An online publication even claimed that some Northern Mallams were praying for her success in the mosques. Everyone at that period believed that she were a detribalized Nigerian with real-world experience of policy- making. The reason for writing this write-up is to alert her to some disturbing trends as regards some recent appointments into top public offices in Nigeria in view of their economic and political implications. As the most powerful minister and an Igbo Princess from the Niger Delta by virtue of being a daughter of Obi of Ogwashi-Uku community in Delta State, I believe she should continue to live above board. Recently the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) made some disturbing allegations of ethnic cleansing of Yoruba in federal appointments by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. Wife of the sage, Chief HID Awolowo and the retired Bishop of Akure, Rt. Rev. Bolanle Gbonigi in Ikenne Ogun State after the meeting of the forum accused the administration of systematically excluding the Yoruba nation from the federation in terms of appointments without justification. They called on the government to redress the “systematic discrimination” against the Yoruba nationality in federal appointive positions without delay, saying that the Yoruba have been getting “crumbs” from the administration. No sooner than the Yoruba allegation was made that the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) also publicly lamented gaping marginalization against the North over appointments and promotions in the military. According to these distinguished Nigerians, there are lopsidedness in employment and postings in the Nigerian Army in favour of the Igbos, which is clearly in the breach of the principle of Federal Character. She should be aware that many Nigerians are referring to a book, ‘Chinua Achebe Teacher of Light’ which she co-authored where she expressed bitterness about how her tribe was dealt with before, during and after the civil war and insinuating that now that she is in authority, she is determined to correct all that she perceived as injustice against her people. Some even insist that what she is doing now is promoting regional and ethnic agenda to the detriment of other groupings in Nigeria by manipulating appointments. To drive the point home, her name has been lately mentioned as collaborating with another Igbo top ranking appointee in government to ensure the reinstallation of Ms Arunma Oteh as Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) despite the glaring allegations against her and consistent calls by the National Assembly for her removal. Okonjo-Iweala stood her ground, damning all and today, Oteh remains in the position. While the debate on Oteh’s saga was yet to subside, a coalition of youths, led by human rights activist and President of Civil Rights Congress, Shehu Sani, queried the rationale behind the appointment of a new Chairman for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) when a northerner, Kabir Mashi was already in the position and improving the revenue base of the agency, especially VAT collection for the Federation Account. Under Mashi FIRS has continued to record steady increases in the collection of taxes that it closed the 2012 financial year with a total collection of N5 trillion where N1.8 trillion (36.07 per cent) came from non-oil taxes. The group claimed that the committee that Okonjo- Iweala set up was a smokescreen just to give a semblance of due process and fairness whereas it was populated mainly by her Igbo kinsmen. They added that “We don’t believe there is transparency in the process, and we caution the President against the excessive ceding of his own power to the finance minister.” They publicly criticized her of playing an ethnic game with many of the appointments made in the country since she returned to the saddle. Some of the other positions, they alleged, which were created and filled during this period include those of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) , Sovereign Wealth Fund, Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) and even the recent appointment of a 40 year old lady as Director General of National Pension Commission (PENCOM). People are wondering at the coincidence of only Igbos beating every other person at competitive interviews conducted by her nominated international consulting groups. The only semblance of federal character principle in some of those institutions is the appointment of ceremonious but temporary chairmen who are merely figure-heads, with mandates for mere advisory roles. The use of catchy phrases such as “best brains,” “foreign trained,” and “foreign-based” to deprived qualified, competent and experienced Nigerians to aspire to top positions is quite inimical to the progress of our nation. The erroneous impression that some competitive and sensitive positions can only be filled by unique intelligent tribes must be corrected. Experiences have shown that in practical situations, some so-called foreign trained and bookish first class graduates could not do better than other Nigerians who have the competence and experience to prove their worth in most difficulty terrains. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala should also note that blatant disregard to the sensitivities and sensibilities of others while arrogantly promoting only people from her tribe may expose them to hatred with potentially explosive consequences such as those experienced in the 1960s when most federal positions were occupied by a particular tribal group. For those of us who still respect the Hon Minister of Finance and Economic Development, we strongly believe she should dissociate herself from current allegations of ‘biafranization’ of top public offices in Nigeria. We are in democratic government where policy issues should not be done in dictatorial manner of ‘we-are-now-in-power’. I therefore urge her to ensure that appointments into important positions should be done in credible and transparent manners that can withstand public scrutiny. I believe strongly that only those that mean well will dare to tell the truth on the general feeling in the country. yashuaib@yahoo.com 2 Likes |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by Sunnybobo3(m): 8:50am On Oct 11, 2013 |
Now you can become a full time journalist. Idi0t! 1 Like |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by talktrue1(m): 9:46am On Oct 11, 2013 |
As a civil servant, you already signed to remain loyal to the government. You can't bite the finger that feeds you. Moreover, employment in Nigeria is whom you know. 1 Like |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by rusep: 10:07am On Oct 11, 2013 |
Imagine what will happen in social media if Iweala is a Northerner and this guy a Southerner. But since the reverse is the case even this thread is still in the first page. 2 Likes |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by suleiman16(m): 10:16am On Oct 11, 2013 |
Moderator, pls front page... |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by Nobody: 10:54am On Oct 11, 2013 |
emk4lif: Here's the article that got Yushai sacked, I think he had it coming tho....it was unethical of a civil servant to criticize as suchServe him right! |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by pcicero(m): 11:30am On Oct 11, 2013 |
His assertions might be true but he lacked tact. He could have simply used a pseudonym. |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by citizenY(m): 12:21pm On Oct 11, 2013 |
Is he right or wrong in his statements?...that is the issue |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by jpphilips(m): 12:35pm On Oct 11, 2013 |
imagine the impunity, who says Nigerian civil servants are competent? |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by nduchucks: 12:59pm On Oct 11, 2013 |
Yushau Shuaib belongs in the Senate |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by kkkp: 1:04pm On Oct 11, 2013 |
Aluta Continua |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by FreeGlobe(f): 1:08pm On Oct 11, 2013 |
it is a total disgrace to Nigeria as a nation for this man to be in the civil service in the first place. He will not be missed. |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by Standing5(m): 2:00pm On Oct 11, 2013 |
Same pattern of appointment that resulted in a war is being practised. Some people want us to believe success in their blood. |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by gunuvi(m): 2:13pm On Oct 11, 2013 |
Can u imagine?, infact he deserves to be jailed for character assassination. |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by Dereformer(m): 2:14pm On Oct 11, 2013 |
suleiman16: Exactly 20 years ago in A good soldier is one who fights and lives to fight again. Guy, you are not a good soldier. Period. |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by Cuche: 2:36pm On Oct 11, 2013 |
His article is not fantastic. How come he won those media awards? I am science inclined but I think I wld do better if I sit down to write. The message is clear anyway, he wants to be a hero at the expense of his job. Or he has a new job somewhere. You don't do that in civil service or any other job. Write against your boss in newsprint and sign with your name even if the allegations are true? That's unethical. And they even called you to explain yourself , Mr Shuaib? I think they were nice to you because you'd be sacked elsewhere the same day the article was published |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by Peterwins(m): 2:44pm On Oct 11, 2013 |
20 years of being in PR and yet he does not understand the fundamental principles of his career. Such a waste of time and effort trying to play the victim. I would like to see his earlier write-ups of the same level of criticism when other appointments where lopsided in this same country. Was he tongue tied (perhaps "pen-tied") when the heads of CBN, NNPC, NDIC, Ministry of Finance and other key positions where in the hands of the so-called "core North" a few years ago and indeed during the reign of various military administrations. Ethnicity cannot be justified in the place of merit. He seems to be feigning ignorance about a whole lot of issues. Just a cursory look at his piece against the Minister of Finance will reveal a mischievous attempt to flame the fire of hate in an overheated polity in a country where religious and tribal/ethnic differences have led to the loss of lives and properties in recent years. Perhaps he has joined the league of Asari Dokuboh, El Rufai, et al who flame the embers of disunity with their unguarded and half-baked statements. Perhaps he should have critiqued other ministers, heads of other government departments and agencies why they prefer to appoint their kith and kin in key positions under their various MDAs. He should have started his criticism by simply taking a look at the Naira notes since SLS became CBN governor and ask why all the directors of currency operartions (I guess 2 - Mahmud K Umar, Muhammad Nda) are from the same region. Other parallel and un-parellel examples exist across board throughout all other MDAs. No one (ethnic group) is innocent. We all can play the ethnic card and also play the victim whenever the tide is not in our favour or that of our kith and kin. His effort to draw sympathy and look victimised is a cheap and arrogant display to hide his unwarranted and unprofessional misconduct as a top PR official in a government establishment. GOD bless Nigeria and all who wish her well. 3 Likes |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by Boss13: 3:31pm On Oct 11, 2013 |
I thought the man did a good write up, only for me to read the nonsense. He is writing against the same reason he benefitted from. He got a job via an award. Does he know how many youth service corps member have awards and were not given a job. He got the job because he was a northerner and probably above the average northerner. He should know that in a free and fair competitive nation, northerners won't gain access into public office because the south is well advance ahead of them. He should also know that the south is highly competitive and that is a reason why I frown at a northern child scoring just 2 marks and gaining admission into secondary school. Please he should get out of our sight and never to be heard of again. |
Re: I Cease To Be A Civil Servant- (spokeman Of NEMA, Sacked By Okonjo Iweale) by Sec5(m): 3:50pm On Oct 11, 2013 |
U can now join FFK in criticizing d govt in full time basis good luck to you. 1 Like |
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