Contrary to the story making the rounds that 22 employees of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) were sacked recently by the new management of the agency, fresh facts emerged last week that the former employees were employed illegally.
These facts were unfolded by the duo of NIMASA’s executive director, Mr Ishaku Shekarau and legal adviser, Mr Mathew Egbadon who both told maritime journalists at an inaugural media chat with the new director general, Mr Temi Omatseye that the 22 were single – handedly employed by the immediate past director general, Dr Ade Dosunmu without regards for due process.
There was a media report (Shipping Position Weekly, not inclusive) last week that the 22 were sacked vindictively by the new management and that those affected were legitimately employed shortly before the exit of the former director general.
But, apparently interested in spilling the beans and putting the records straight, the new helmsman directed both the executive director and he legal adviser who were also part of the immediate past executive management.
Mr Egbadon confirmed to journalists that back- dated letters of employment were given to the 22 without the knowledge of the executive management and that they resumed after the exit of Dr Dosunmu as the director general.
He disclosed that as at the time of the sack, the 22 were not even on the pay roll of NIMASA and confirmed that the executive management had the powers to employ up to level 13 officers with the permission of the board, even as he added that it is the responsibility of the board to appoint such officers.
Also corroborating Egbadon’s clarifications, Mr Ishaku Shekarau declared that there was no time that the executive board met on the matter and when asked if there was a management decision to appoint to employ the 22, the executive director said that he was not aware of any such decision.
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