Posted by By PHILIP NWOSU on
The Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) has been ordered to immediately reinstate a chief postal controller, who was unjustly retired by the management of the organization in 2005.
The Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) has been ordered to immediately reinstate a chief postal controller, who was unjustly retired by the management of the organization in 2005.
The House of Representatives gave the directive after deliberations by its Committee on Public Petition on the matter of unjust retirement of Mr Godwin Okhavhe.
Okhavhe was retired unjustly in July 2005 when he was asked through a letter to proceed on a compulsory leave with immediate effect, pending the outcome of the case against him.
Following this, Okhavhe proceeded to the National Assembly for help, asking the House Committee on Public Petition to investigate his unlawful retirement from civil service which was carried out contrary to the extant rules and guidelines for appointments, promotion and discipline in the Federal Civil Service Commission.
The committee which was chaired by Honourable CID Maduabum, after much deliberation on the matter and questioning of some NIPOST officials, decided, among others, 'that Mr Okhavhe be reinstated as due process was not adhered to in his disengagement from the service of NIPOST.
'That Mr G.E.A Okhavhe's lost entitlements including promotions, be restored to him to enable him be at par with his colleagues."
Stating his case before the House Committee on Public Petition, Mr. Okhavhe said: 'My problem with the postmaster general/CEO started about two years ago when I received a letter reference NIP/APMG/CS/DISC/011/Vol.06 of July 18, 2005. In the letter under reference, I was directed to proceed on compulsory leave with immediate effect, pending the outcome of the case against me.
Other pronouncement made by the Postmaster General/CEO in the same letter is that I should not travel out of my station (Lagos) for as long as the compulsory leave was in force, without the express approval of the postmaster general/CEO.
Secondly, I was directed to stay away from the premises of my station while the compulsory leave was in force."
He told the House Committee that he tried to find out from the postmaster general then, Alhaji A.M Argungu who informed him that the action of NIPOST was based on an anonymous petition against Mr Okhavhe.