Abuja
Indications have emerged of a plot to smear the Head of Service of the Federation (HoS), Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, and portray her as undermining cohesion and discipline in the civil service.
A source in the office of the HoS told our correspondent that the plot is allegedly being masterminded by detractors of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s anti-corruption effort.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said: “The fulcrum of this plot is the appointment of Mr Olusegun Adekunle, a long-time Director of Admin, as the Permanent Secretary (General Services Office- GSO), Office of Secretary to Government of the Federation (OSGF).
“Her detractors are accusing her of breaching civil service rules by appointing Adekunle as PS GSO above other Permanent Secretaries considered as his senior in the service.
“Those behind the plot are allegedly planning to blackmail the HOS into re-deploying Adekunle so as to make way for one of them to occupy the seat, a position considered by civil servants as “powerful and juicy.”
Continuing, the source said: “While it is true that large and complex ministries may be reserved for more experienced Permanent secretaries, it is however not a rule.
“Perm Secs are often posted more on their capacity and abilities, especially in the area of administration and their personal maturity, and there is really nothing like ‘senior or junior’ Perm Sec.
“If previous experience is any guide, the plot against Oyo-Ita is baseless and ill-motivated. There have been many instances of relatively new Perm Secs, who have done excellently well like Mohammed Bukar in Works and Housing, who cut his teeth as Perm Secs, General Services Office (GSO), OSGF.”
