CDHR Petitions CCB Chairman Over Extension Of HoS, Accountant-General By Gov Adeleke

By Hammed Tajudeen, Osogbo

Human rights organization, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) Osun chapter, has petitioned the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Dr. Abdullahi Usman Bello, accusing the Head of Service, Mr. Samuel Ayanleye Aina, and the Accountant-General, Mr. Rasheed Olalere Alabi, of bastardizing Osun Public Service Regulation.

State Chairman of CDHR, Comrade, in a petition he signed alleged that the duo illegally extended their tenure, contrary to the Public Service Rule 2011 of Osun State.

Olowu called for a thorough investigation into the conspiracy between the Head of Service, the Accountant-General, and the Governor, just as he also demanded for onward prosecution of all those behind the illegalities.

He accused the Osun State government, under the leadership of Governor Ademola Adeleke of complicity in the illegal extension.

He recalled that the Head of Service was granted a three-year extension, while the Accountant-General remained in office 64 days after his retirement age.

This action according Olowu was unconstitutional, noting that retirement letter must submitted six months before the retirement age, as stipulated by law.

According to the human rights organization’s petition to the Code of Conduct Bureau , “The aims and objectives of the Bureau shall be to establish and maintain a high standard of morality in the conduct of government business and to ensure that the actions and behavior of public officers conform to the highest standards of public morality and accountability.”

“Your bureau has the power to investigate the Governors, Deputy Governors of States, and even civil servants

“Sir, our organization on the 19th of December wrote a letter to both the Head of Service and The Accountant General of the state, requesting from them why they had not submitted their retirement letters six months before their retirement age.

“The duo failed to reply to our letters, only for the Osun State government under the administration of Sen. Ademola Adeleke to present a letter to the Head of Service extending his service year for Three Years, which is an aberration to the Public Service Rule 2011 of Osun State, while Mr Rasheed Olalere Alabi The Accountant – General of Osun State who attained is retirement age on the 15th of March 2024, did not retire and still functioning as the Accountant General of the State Sixty Four days after his retirement.

“Furthermore, we would like you to note that this illegal extension has had cascading effects, leading other retiring individuals not to submit their retirement letters six months before their retirement age, as stipulated by all laws guiding public service.

“The compulsory retirement age for all grades shall be 60 years of age or 35 years of pensionable service, whichever is earlier.

“No officer shall be allowed to remain in service after attaining the retirement age of 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service, whichever is earlier.

“The provision is without prejudice to prevailing requirements for judicial officers and Academic Staff of Universities who retire at 70 and 65 years respectively.

“We therefore, want you to note that the acceptance of the three-year extension of the Head of Services, and the retaining/ extension of the Accountant General as the case may be or the failure of Permanent Secretaries who should have submitted their letters of retirement six months to their retirement age is an act in Section 4 of the Osun Public service rule which stipulates – Serious Misconduct 0304029 (XI) which reflects corruption in the Public Service Rule” the petition reads.

CDHR, however, called for immediate retirement of the two civil servants.