RECENTLY, many Ebonyians living in Abuja gathered and celebrated the swearing-in of two of their sons as Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs). They are Roy Umahi (SAN) and Uchenna Uzo Njoku (SAN). The duo might not even know that a celebration was going on on their behalf. Few individual Ebonyians who know the weight of the achievement sponsored the celebration. But as the celebration was going on, one man in the alfresco event heaved a sigh, and shook his head. His mood changed dramatically. He said that he would have been happier if Ebonyi people could get more of what they should get in Federal Government equation. The young man made allusions to the still vacant slot of Ebonyi state in the Federal Permanent Secretary position and talked about how an Ebonyi State’s son went through the rigorous examination and screening process and qualified for the position. But two months after candidates from eight other states had been sworn in as Permanent Secretaries, the Ebonyi State candidate is still waiting on the bench. This narrative was astounding as well as gripping. What was a joyous moment immediately became a rendezvous for lamentation. But what could have happened? Are these narratives true and factual? Are the people in the right places aware? What have they done about this situation? Those are germane questions because it beats all imaginations that a state would qualify for a position and it would be kept on the bench while its contemporaries are already playing the league.
That was the second time this writer was hearing about the Ebonyi State and Federal Permanent Secretary imbroglio. The first time was in a statement signed by the Country Director of the African Foundation for Development Communication (AFODEC), Chief Obinna Okorie. In the statement that was shared on a WhatsApp group, the writer expressed concern over “non-inclusion of Ebonyi State finalist in the recent inauguration of the Federal Permanent Secretaries”. Chief Okorie corroborated the narrative that out of the nine finalists, eight of them from different other states had been inaugurated in August by President Ahmed Tinubu while the ninth person and the only finalist from Ebonyi state was not inaugurated. In that statement, the AFODEC man recalled that Ebonyi State is always touted as a disadvantaged state, but expressed dismay that same Ebonyi is often not considered even when they meet considerable requirements. The man in Abuja said that he saw the advertisement for the position of federal permanent secretaries and that he was sure that Ebonyi indigenes who met the criteria applied and participated in the process up the last stages of the examination process. “We are concerned that even when these purported disadvantaged people meet considerable requirements for certain positions at the federal level, they are often not considered. We are not asking for what is not due to them. We are asking for what is due to them. Or if there are issues, there should be explanations to why some things happened “, Okorie said in a statement.
Recently, Ebonyi sons praised the effort of Ebonyi State Government led by Governor Francis O. Nwifuru also called on the Governor to continue taking interest in fighting for Ebonyi indigenes. “The young governor of Ebonyi is doing a great job: improved welfare for workers, infrastructure development, quality education, security wise among others. He is truly continuing from where the former governor, David Umahi stopped. The issue of this permanent secretary position for Ebonyi state indigene is an issue the governor should know about. Because if he does, he would take steps further to ask why nine Federal Civil Service Directors from nine different states participated and reached the final stage in the just concluded Federal Permanent Secretary examination, eight other Directors got the position while the one from Ebonyi state was withheld or not included. The questions that come to mind are, did the candidate fail in any of the tests? Or is Ebonyi State not ripe to have a federal permanent secretary yet? These are some issues we are not comfortable with “, he said.
He begged the handling authorities and stakeholders including President, the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, Governor Nwifuru, Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi and other people to swiftly note the case of Ebonyi state and take appropriate action to remediate the situation. It is understandable why the mood of the Ebonyi people changed after hearing about the Federal Permanent Secretary issue. This is a position they feel that the Almighty God has already given to them. So, why the delay? Why benching a star player when the league is on? I share in their sentiment and I ask that appropriate questions should be asked, appropriate answers received and appropriate action taken immediately. Time is of essence. Congratulations to Roy Umahi (SAN). Congratulations to Uchenna Uzo Njoku (SAN). Congratulations to the people of Ebonyi state home and abroad. May your joy be full. Amen.
- Chukwu, a public affairs specialist, writes in from Abuja.
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