A Public Analyst has stressed the need for the current Nigerian administration of Muhammadu Buhari to punish defaulters in the Civil Service sector, as a way of ending corruption and poor performance.
Giving his opinion on Wednesday about the anti-corruption fight of President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Ken Ugbeche is optimistic that adequate punishment for crimes and laxity for public servants would revive the sector which he said had collapsed.
“I want to see Mr President punish Ministers, his appointees, and telling Nigerians, ‘I am sacking this Minister, because of his misdeed’,” he added.
‘Eye Service’
Mr Ugbeche, however, said that the chants on the fight against corruption had sent a wrong signal even in the public service.
“Most parastatals are not willing to take initiatives even the Permanent Secretaries.
“We need a fresh blood from outside that will drive the system and gear the Permanent Secretary to wake up because some of them are folding their hands and waiting for retirement,” he said.
The Public Analyst also pointed out that most civil servants were operating in their parastatals by ‘eye service’.
“What could have led to the behaviour of eye service is the history of failure in the public service which has collapsed.
“People are not being punished. Officials are not making the effective check,” he stressed.
On the appointment by President Buhari so far, he opined that they appeared nepotic in nature, with persons from the northern region given more consideration.
Mr Ugbeche also expressed dissatisfaction with the philosophy of Buhari-led administration in terms of policy directions, insisting that there has to be a policy trust and direction of the government, which should be seen by Nigerians.
“When the President appoints people from the part of the country where he hails from and neglects the other persons, he cannot tell me, as a President, that these other people are not qualified.
“He cannot also tell me, as a President, that you cannot trust people from outside your tribe,” he insisted, making a case for his claims.
But the Presidency had said that the appointments made by President Buhari were within the rights provided by the Nigerian Constitution for the President.
A spokesman for the President, Mr Femi Adesina told reporters on Monday that majority of the appointments were President Buhari’s personal staff.
“He has the prerogative to appoint those ones. Some of those ones are also statutory appointments. The next person in rank normally steps in. And we have said better things are ahead.
“Every part of the country will be taken care of. These are early days. These are early appointments many more are still on their way,” Mr Adesina stated.
