More than 14 months after the conduct of interviews to fill the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research, NIFOR, sixteen communities in Edo State have petitioned the Federal Government over the delay in releasing the results of the interviews.
Newspot reports that the communities in Ovia North East Local Government Area are all host to the oil palm institute.
The petition under the aegis of NIFOR Host Communities Elders Forums was addressed to the Minister, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari.
Others copied are the Senate President and Chief of Staff to the President. Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and the Head of Service of the Federation.
The 16 host communities involved are listed as Uwan, Ugbogiobo, Evboneka, Iyowa, Oluku, Okokhuo, Abumwere, Isikhukhu, Ekowe, Ekodobo, Azalama, Ozoguo, Obazuwa, Ekiadolor, Iguediaken, and Okunuvbe.
The petition, signed by Omobude Ali Joseph, Aighobahi Daniel, Omoruyi Jolly, Ahanor Ekhosuehi and Ofamukoro Matthew, was made available to newsmen in Benin City.
The petitioners alleged that the competency test conducted to evaluate candidates for the position of CEO of the institute has been suppressed, insisting that an advertisement to fill the vacant position was published in a National Daily on August 19, 2023, while the written and oral examinations were conducted on October 10 and 12 2023 respectively.
The host communities opined that the examinations were also meant to ensure a merit-based appointment but that the results have remained concealed, thereby fueling speculation and uncertainty.
They, however, described the delay as a deliberate attempt to undermine transparency, which they alleged is now causing unrest among staff and other stakeholders in the institute.
The petition read, ”We the undersigned persons and indigenes of NIFOR host communities most passionately appeal to you sir, to probe into the deliberate and non-disclosure of the outcome of a competency test and interview conducted by NIFOR.
“The said exam/interview was a criteria set out for the selection and appointment of a suitable and substantive CEO for the institute.
“The non-release of the names of successful candidates who sat for the competency test months ago are potential factors fuelling the gathering storm that would soon implode if urgent actions are not taken,” they warned.
The petitioners who warned of an imminent implosion in the institute, noted that the development is already gathering momentum following the alleged large-scale administrative ineptitude and victimisation of persons agitating that there should be an end to the incidence of an Acting Director/CEO.
They also posited that failure to release the results violates public service rules, which mandated the retirement of staff who had spent eight years as director, a standard that has allegedly been flouted at NIFOR.
They further demanded an immediate probe into the suppression of results, stating that when the results of the test are disclosed and the most successful candidate announced it would put an end to a situation where an acting CEO administers the institute against the public service rules.
While noting that they are stakeholders in NIFOR affairs and want enduring peace in the Institute, the communities, however, called on the federal government to uphold the established guidelines for managing agricultural research institutes to restore order and public trust at the oil palm institute.
They warned that failure to act promptly on the matter could lead to a catastrophic breach of public peace at the Institute.
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