Former Governor of Rivers State, Chief Rufus Ada George (right) in a chat with former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi during the 80th birthday celebration of former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme at the Banquet Hall, Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, recently. Photo: Egberi .A. Sampson.

The Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Rivers State Chapter, says it is making concerted effort to ascertain the true facts about the alleged irregularities in the recently concluded postings and promotions of some officers of the local Governments by the State local Government Service Commission.

The NULGE Chairman, Comrade Franklin Ajunwo gave the assurance Monday in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt, said the commission was biased in its recently concluded posting and promotion exercises across the 23 Local Government areas of the State.

The NULGE Chairman, who confirmed that, the union has received series of complaints concerning the just-concluded posting and promotion exercises said, the union executive has scheduled a meeting with the authority of the commission, where the commission would present to the Union the criteria and facts about the controversial local government staff posting and promotion in the state two months ago.

He urged those officers affected in the posting and promotion exercises to remain calm pending when the union would conclude its findings with the commission.

“We are meeting the Commission to find out the truth and facts about the posting and promotion, and if there is any irregularity, the union will look for solution to correct it immediately”, Comrade Ajunwo said.

However, The Tide learnt that the recent postings and promotions made by the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission across the 23 Local Government areas of the state have not gone down well with some  officers of the service.

An affected officer of the local government service, under anonymity told The Tide that he was demoted from the position of Head of Personnel Manager (HPM) to Head of a sub-department that is meant for a senior cadre, while an officer below his grade was made Head of Personnel manager without cogent reasons.

The officer described the treatment meted out to him by the commission as most unfair  and bias of the highest order in the civil service system in the state.

Another officer on grade level 15 said, he was replaced by an officer of grade level 13 who does not merit directors position, if going by the local government civil service Act.

The affected officers called on the State Government and NULGE authority to wade into the alleged irregularities in the exercises by the commission.

Efforts to confirm from the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Chief Azubuike Nmerekini proved abortive, as access to him through phone or in person was impossible at the time of filing this report.

Enoch Epelle