There is a disturbing air of unease at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) over the continued engagement of the legal adviser and secretary to the agency board, Mr. Mathew Egbadon.
He was to have proceeded on retirement haven served for the more than eight years in the director’s cadre and haven met other requirements for retirement from civil service.
There is a disturbing air of unease at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) over the continued engagement of the legal adviser and secretary to the agency board, Mr. Mathew Egbadon.
He was to have proceeded on retirement haven served for the more than eight years in the director’s cadre and haven met other requirements for retirement from civil service.
But rather than proceed on retirement, the legal adviser allegedly persuaded the director general, Mr Ziakede Akpobolokemi to prevail on the minister of transport, Senator Idris Umar to allow Egbadon continue in office.
Sources at NIMASA confirmed to Shipping Position Daily to perfect the game plan , the director general did a letter to the chairman of NIMASA board, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu to formally inform him of Egabdon’s predicament, he however requested for the chairman’s authorization to engage the retiring legal adviser for two years, albeit on contract basis.
Shipping Position Daily confirmed that the chairman actually gave anticipatory approval pending when the board would meet. The board never met until the board was dissolved by President Goodluck Jonathan last October, yet the legal adviser has remained in service since then.
Already, the action is generating bad blood in the system as those who believe that they are qualified to be elevated are crying foul, especially as they have reportedly uncovered alleged moves by certain interests who are loyal to the embattled legal adviser to doctor the date on the letter.
Sources within NIMASA told our correspondent with evidences that even though the letter was dated September 13, 2011, implementation of the chairman’s anticipatory approval had commenced before the management meeting held on September 24, 2011.
A copy of some of the letter confirmed the chairman as having commented that: “anticipatory approval is granted for one year duration. Please ensure that civil service regulations are met. My approval should be brought up to the next regular board meeting for rectification.”
And acting on the chairman’s ‘approval, the DG had directed that : “Approved as recommended. Implement as from the 5th of September, 2011. This will subsist until the Board meets to take final decision on the terms of engagement as the Agency's Secretary to the Board/Legal Adviser.”
Curiously, a director (names withheld) also wrote on a memo on the same issue that:“Furtherance to our Executive Management meeting today 24/10/11, please implement Chairman's anticipatory approval with the following (i) Points raised above. (ii) Appointment should be at next grade level down in accordance with public service rules. (iii) Executive management agree to waive/defer need to advertise vacancy in view Chairman's approval.”
Some senior personnel of the agency alleged that the NIMASA DG’s action negated due process and that rather than give board secretary/legal adviser an unusual extension of tenure, the DG ought to have allowed those who are qualified within the system to apply before throwing it back at the retiring legal adviser.
They stated that the impression the action has portrayed is that no one in NIMASA is qualified for the position of legal adviser/board secretary.
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