‘Revisit appointment of Auditor-General’ ~ Says WNC.

‘Revisit appointment of Auditor-General’ ~ Says WNC.

The appointment of Mr. Shaaka Chira, by President Bola Tinubu, as substantive Auditor-General of the Federation (AGoF) has continued to generate controversy, it was learnt.

 A group, Worried Nigerian Citizens (WNC), has joined in the fray.

 Chira’s confirmation was put on hold by the Senate following petitions alleging as the most junior director of the office, he lacked the basic experience to head such a sensitive position.

WNC, in a petition by its Convener, Moses Idika, urged the President to revisit the appointment in the interest of Civil Service.

 The petition was copied to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, and head of Civil Service Commission.

 WNC wondered why Chira, who ranked 17th among the 17 directors in the AGoF Office, should be made to superintend a sensitive post that has 16 persons who are his superiors.

 The group urged President Tinubu to reconsider the appointment because it does not align with Civil Service rule.

It argued Chira’s appointment could dampen “morale of civil servants who work hard and at the same time make lazy ones feel they can get ahead once they have the influence”.

The petition reads: “The Senate last week put on hold confirmation of Mr. Shaaka Chira as substantive Auditor-General of the Federation.

 “We are aware several directors in the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation were behind the petition that the Senate relied upon to put on hold the confirmation.

 “We are concerned over the disquiet that greeted the appointment. 

“The disquiet stems from the fact that Mr. Chira, the 18th on the line of seniority in the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, was appointed to leap and head the 17 other directors who are his seniors.

“It is instructive for the Federal Government to take into cognisance the debilitating effect this appointment may have on the civil service and the morale of officers of the service.

 “The Civil Service thrives on hard work and elevation rooted in promotions and unbroken chain of command.

 “The latest appointment of President Bola Tinubu strikes at the core of the Civil Service in that it has the potential to dampen morale of civil servants who may feel hard work no longer matters if one has “long legs” in the government.

 “We  call on Mr. President to reverse the appointment in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President which we believe is rooted in re-directing the minds of Nigerians to have hope in our institutions, our government and in our laws.   

“The National Assembly must stand on the side of the people by ensuring the President does right in the interest of our national cohesion.’’

“Every Nigerian and every Nigerian civil servant must be made to rely on the ethics of their profession as a precursor for promotions and elevations.

 “The Civil Service Rule must also be abided with as a sustainable growth path for all civil servants, ethnicity, godfatherism and favouritism have no place in civil service and therefore, must never, become part of our civil service. 

 “The Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation is a sensitive position that the President must ensure that the morale of its staff is at pitch-high for efficiency.”