NDNAF demands reversal of lopsided recruitment at PEF

By Chukwuemeka Emmanuel

The Niger Delta Non-violent Agitators Forum (NDNAF) has expressed displeasure over what it termed the alienation of the good people of the Niger Delta region from the discrete recruitment exercise in the Petroleum Equalization Fund (Management) Board (PEFMB) in 2020.

It noted that a waiver not to advertise vacancy for the filled positions was approved by the Federal Character Commission, which negates the constitution.

Quoting a memo with ref. no: PEF/C/102/S.5/11/336 dated 15th October, 2020, NDNAF said the said recruitment was conducted for two hundred staff (200) graduate level entry and junior

cadre into the PEF(M) Board and was wrongly recommended for certificate of compliance by the Federal Character Commission.

The memo indicates that out of two hundred staff recruited: One hundred and eighty four (184) candidates were successfully shortlisted for graduate level entry into the PEF(M) Board, and;

Sixteen (16) candidates for the junior cadre were also successfully shortlisted for employment into the PEF(M) Board.

A breakdown of the distributions showed by the group indicated that oil Producing states got lesser slots. Like Abia State 1, 0.5%; Akwa-Ibom 2, 1%; Bayelsa 4, 4%; Cross-River 2, 1%; Delta 3,

1.5% and Edo, 0%; Imo 3, 1.5%; Ondo 0 and Rivers 2, 1%, totaling 17, 8.5%.

From the above, NDNAF wondered why only 17 persons which represent 8.5% of the total 200 persons recruited into the PEF(M) Board came from the oil and gas producing states of the region,

while non-oil producing states such as Adamawa got 16 (8%), Bauchi 9 (4.5%), Borno 13 (6.5%) Kano 19 (9.5%), Katsina 14 (7%), respectively and amongst other non-oil producing states that

got varying candidates ranging from 6 persons from those states in the recruitment exercise.

The action to them amounts to an aberration and a clear affront on the people of the Niger Delta region who have been deprived for far too long.

It therefore demanded for an explanation from the management of the PEF board why its recruitment exercise negates and in gross violation of the spirit and letter of the Federal Character Principles.

It also sought to know how the formula adopted by the Board arrived at those ridiculous figures for oil producing states of the region and in some, zero candidates, while allocating unjustifiable numbers to Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Kano, Katsina and the rest of them.

It specifically demanded to know why the people of the Niger Delta region were deliberately alienated and marginalized from the recruitment process, while states that have no drop of oil were considered priorities and deserved to be treated special above the people who suffer environmental degradation, pollution and who have lost their sources of livelihood to oil exploratory activities in the region.

In a petition letter the Executive Secretary, Petroleum Equalization Fund (Management) Board, a copy of which was obtained by Vanguard the group questioned why the people of the region were being denied of their rights of employment to work in PEF(M) Board after losing their means of stay to oil exploration activities in the region and why the people from the region should not mobilize to protest against the injustice, systematic alienation and deliberate marginalization of people of the region.

The letter signed by the Chairman of the group, Comrade Embale Jonathan and other executive members copied to the Office of the National Security Adviser; the Director Department of State Service (DSS); the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command Headquarter; Minister of State, Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Executive Chairman Federal Character Commission and the Director.

According to the group, when it sought for round-table discussion and dialogue with the management of the Board over the issue, they showed total disregard with impunity, warning that such unresolved practice(s) of actual

or perceived presence of injustice against a group or a people in the world over, could cause crises that leads to full blown conflagration.

For purposes of equity, justice fairness and inclusion, it called on the leaders, civil society organizations, religious leaders and critical stakeholders of the region to rise unresolved practice(s) of actual or perceived presence of injustice against a group or a people up against the deliberate exclusion in the recruitment exercise which according to it was aimed at undermining the people of the Niger Delta in the scheme of things, demanding that the leaders should prevail on PEF(M)B to review the obnoxious recruitment exercise carried out by the Ahmed Bobboi led Board.

Meanwhile, all efforts made to reach the management of PEF proved abortive.