By Jude Opara, Abuja
An Abuja based human rights group, the Transparency Centre Network (TCN), has called for urgent review of alleged corruption, irregularities and reckless abuse of due process in the recent promotions in the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, (NUPRC).
The group alleged that there were consistent and blatant violations of the federal character principles and the arbitrary abuse of due process in employment, promotions and refusal to follow approved civil service rules by the current management of the Agency.
National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Bassey Newgent Ekamon (JP),vin a petition to the National Assembly, the Federal Civil Service Commission, the Federal Character Commission and the Head of Service of the Federation, alleged among others that cases of executive recklessness has reached unprecedented heights in recent times in the Commission with only one ethnic group dominating the agency to the detriment of others.
“The commission’s recent employment and promotions exercises were concluded in clear violation of the Federal Character Principles as enshrined in Sections 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. Certain geo-graphical zones and ethnic groups were disproportionately favoured while others were deliberately marginalised. This practice threatens national cohesion and fairness in public service administration.
“Also, there are glaring reports of arbitrary promotions and the backdating of appointments, often executed in disregard of laid down civil service rules. Staff promotions have been manipulated to favour cronies and relations of top management officials at the expense of other hardworking officers. Several senior promotions have been awarded without adherence to merit, qualifications or competitive procedures,” the petition alleged.
On allegations of corruption and financial impropriety, the group claimed that the current management of the agency engaged in high scale contract inflation, financial mismanagement and other unethical practices in recruitment, procurement and licensing regime, pointing out that “these corrupt tendencies are fast eroding institutional credibility and sabotaging government’s anti-corruption posture.”
The petition also called for proper investigation and the prosecution of individuals found culpable in the alleged reckless abuse of positions and the extant provisions of the Federal Character Principle as well as compel the agency to henceforth adhere strictly to public service rules.
The group also warned that millions of concerned Nigerians are ready take to the streets and picket the gates of the agency for nationwide demonstration, if the management fails to accept the review of appointments, promotions and improve on internal management structures.
