-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –By Akpo Bawo Ofere:

In keeping with the promise of the MD/CEO of the Commission, Bashorun Askia Ogieh and in line with the decision of the current Board, that staff promotion will be an annual occurrence, DESOPADEC today started issuing promotion letters to staff who were successful at the 2019 promotion interview exercise.

Speaking with some of the staff that received their promotion letters today, they mostly expressed delight at receiving their letters, many of whom expressed pleasant surprise at the event taking place now, a time when the entire nation is faced with an economic downturn, due to the COVID19 pandemic.

One of the successful staff that received their promotion letters, Mrs Tosan Okorodudu of the Community Development and Public Enlightenment Department, was effusive in expressing her thanks to the MD/CEO, Bashorun Askia Ogieh, and the Board, for keeping their word that the promotion exercise would be a regular annual event.

Also speaking on behalf of the Director of Administration and Supplies, Pastor Ferdinand Ebiboh, on the ongoing exercise, Mr. Samuel Ejogbamu, a Deputy Director in the Administration and Supplies Department (Head of Welfare), explained that the promotion interview and screening exercise was thorough and that the process took into cognizance the attendance, recommendations by Heads/Supervisors, performance of staff during the interview, professional prerequisites and discipline, amongst other considerations.

According to Mr. Ejogbamu, “You may have scored high during the interview, but if you had fallen short in keeping with the laws/code of conduct of the Commission, or you do not meet the minimum criteria for your profession, you may not be qualified for promotion.”
He further explained that although, the promotion exercise cuts across all the ethnic groups and was very thorough, especially as Board members from all the ethnic nationality were involved in the process, he was thankful to the MD/CEO, Bashorun Askia Ogieh and the entire Board members for their support and for considering them worthy to function in the promotion committee.

Mr. Ejogbamu while encouraging other staff that have not yet been promoted to be hopeful, as the MD/CEO and his Executive Management team have put a structure in place to ensure that promotion takes place twice every year, as is customary in the public service, also admonished staff to disabuse their minds of the idea of a blanket promotion, as it happened in the IMC days. He stated that it was an aberration and therefore cannot be obtainable anywhere in the Public Service.

The exercise, which commenced today at the Commission’s Head Office, continues tomorrow and afterwards.