The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) has appealed to the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and the Presidency to urgently reconsider the redeployment, and retain Gabriel Tanimu Aduda as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources for positive continuity, said Aduda had built enough capacity to handle affairs of a mainstream and sensitive Ministry. This position was made known in Abuja on Tuesday, 23rd January, 2024 during a World Press Conference and Media Rally held by the Council.
The Council described the recent deployment and redeployment exercise by the Head of Service of the Federation as a critical error, said the decision may cause the entire nation serious setbacks and possible losses on diverse ways especially in the international fronts, if it is not immediately reversed.
Addressing the Press at the Conference, the Executive Secretary of NCSCN Dr Raymond Edoh, was quoted saying “In the recent deployment and redeployment exercise by the Head of Service of the Federation, we have observed some critical errors that may cause the entire nation serious setbacks and possible losses on diverse ways. The posting of Permanent Secretaries has never been this politicized and arbitrary where there is no regards for competence and experience.
“It is common knowledge that Ministries are graded according to complexities and importance to the national growth and economy so much so that in the past there used to be the big Five including Ministries of Defense, Petroleum, Works and Housing, Foreign Affairs and Interior (formerly known as internal affairs). These ministries were exclusively reserved for those with experience and competence to handle, but in the recent postings, we see several new Permanent Secretaries posted to very complex ministries and we wonder if it is a deliberate attempt to promote inefficiencies in the present administration so as to ridicule His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” the group stated.
NCSCN wondered why Mr. Aduda, whom according to them has accomplished amazing feats and strategically repositioned the Ministry and Country in enviable place and path of international acclaim in the oil and gas majors, would be redeployed from the petroleum ministry for someone without his level of experience.
“Amb Gabriel Aduda became the very first Permanent Secretary to ever occupy the seat of OPEC Governor for Nigeria where his intellectual and diplomatic abilities were effectively deployed on the global stages, so much so that at the last Joint ministerial meeting of the OPEC member countries, he was unanimously appointed the Alternate Chairman for OPEC board of Governors for 2024 due to his proactivity, pragmatism and sterling leadership qualities hence, qualifying Nigeria for substantive Chairmanship of the Board of Governors in year 2025 according to OPEC tradition.
“In addition he is the current Board member representing Nigeria on the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) again the first ever Permanent Secretary to hold this position. Again he is the current Board Member representing Nigeria on the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) another first ever held by a Permanent Secretary. All these he achieved within one year in Office as Permanent Secretary Ministry of Petroleum Resources. Having served as Permanent Secretary for over 5 years running across OSGF and 3 Ministries with very impeccable results too numerous to mention.
The Council wondered why Amb Gabriel Tanimu Aduda will be replaced as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources by a 59years old, who has only one year to retire from service, saying the stability and progress being made in the Ministry would be disrupted by the Office of the Head of Service by the redeployment of Amb Gabriel Tanimu Aduda
“The NCSCN called on the Head of service and President Bola Tinubu, to reconsider the decision of the redeployment, resolving to occupy the Office of the Head of Service and National Assembly indefinitely if our appeals fall on deaf ears.”
To this end, the Council opined that redeploying Aduda to another Ministry would mean Nigeria losing the seat of Chairmanship of OPEC Board of Governors in 2025. The Council further back their words with actions at the end of the Press Conference by marching to the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation in Abuja, to submit a letter in regards to the issue