By Evelyn Mkpo and Syl Tom
Earlier this year, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, Head of Civil Service of the Federation accused some civil servants of age falsification and went ahead to state in an interaction with newsmen that salaries of the civil servants who were culpable had been suspended via the Integrated Payroll and Personal Information System (IPPIS).
According to statistics from the office of the Head of Service, the Federal Government, through the IPPIS exposed and sacked over 70,000 ghost workers from the civil service.
Esan said when the IPPIS portal was opened for verification, numerous people were hesitant as they had no intention of exposing their false date of birth.
No doubt, the growing cases of age falsification among Nigerian civil servants in recent times, either in an attempt to reach the apex of their career or outright recalcitrance to stay put and prolong their retirement has not abated.
Indeed, investigations prove that the trend has not stopped despite the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) successfully prosecuting many civil servants who were found guilty.
There have been clear cases of such prosecutions where government workers allegedly altered official documents to falsify their age. Oftentimes, accused persons usually plead not guilty when arraigned in court, until finally such cases were clearly established against them.
Age falsification among civil servants in Nigeria are predominantly carried out by workers who boldly reduce their ages to have advantage of capital accumulation, allowances and remain valuable or invaluable within the workforce.
To this end, 75-year-old men and women still struggle in the office because they falsified their age.
In the words of Dr Adolf Meribe, a Psychologist, “this incident rear its ugly head as a result of fear of the unknown.’’
An article written by Sokoh, G.C(Ph.D) of the Department of Political Science, Delta State University titled: Age Falsification And Its Impact on Continuity And Service Delivery in the Delta State Civil Service,’’ offers thought provoking insights into the saga of age falsifications.
Sokoh argued that numerous factors are responsible for falsification of age which includes fear of uncertainties surrounding retirement; consideration for family pressure and needs, apprehension over lack of alternative means of livelihood.
Other factors listed by Sokoh were, absence of effective social policy and the failure to effectively keep employees records by the directorate in charge.
Sokoh said from experience garnered from the publication of his work, he clearly identified that age falsification negatively gave rise to redundancy, ethical problem and lack of initiative due to ageing workforce.
Accordingly, the article further diagnosed that a major cog to effective performance and productivity in the civil service is the issue of age falsification, that It has been noted this seemingly anomaly have become entrenched because a good number of career officers are culpable.
“Either overtly or covertly, age falsification has become a problem in the management of personnel matters in the government business,’’ Sokoh said.
An ongoing case involving one Mrs Magdalene Iseghohimen, a former director of Human Resource at the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), came to limelight after her lawyer made a press statement asking President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the matter.
In the published version of the statement as seen by this writer, the lawyer, Mr Oyo Orji also sought the intervention of the minister of STI to “wade into the issue as it could lead to public unrest and breach of public peace.’’
What motivated this writer was the appeal the lawyer made in the statement asking the media to investigate the matter and disseminate proper information.
So, after various failed attempts to reach the D-G or other authorities of the NABDA, a staff of the agency that preferred anonymity, fearing for her life due to the former HR director’s recent intimidations, decided to divulge information stating that all the brouhaha bothered on falsification of age.
The staff, whom we would identify as Modibo, for the sake of confidence, alleged that the woman tempered with her age in the record book reducing it by two years, and this led to other staffs that were aware to write a petition against her.
According to Modibo, the ICPC took up the matter and found that she was guilty and were in the process of taking her to court.
“Sometimes ago they wrote to the ministry that they should take action against this woman because there is a case against her for falsification of age.
Modibo disclosed further that the STI ministry subsequently informed the NABDA Governing Board, the agency, and that the board was looking into the matter.
Upon further probe why the woman’s lawyer was hurling all sorts of insults on the D-G of the agency, Modibo declined further comments and only said, “you know lawyers, they are always stirring up arguments to incite so that they can find a way to about their case.’’
Another gracious insider of the agency who spoke anonymously told us that the public service rule states that if a case is prima facie has been established against someone, such a person should be suspended.
Again, for the sake of confidence, we call our second speaker Mandy, who also said public service rule clearly stated that if a case is alleged against a staff; such a staff must evacuate her position or step aside for proper investigation to take place.
“The least I know is that, that was what was done and she was asked to be reporting directly to the D-G of the agency because if she still occupied her position, there would no room for her to be investigated.
“I understand a letter was given to her but she refused to collect it, saying nobody should do that on the ground that she claimed she took those that petitioned her to court and subsequently that must also apply to the agency, which is wrong.
“She also took ICPC that was investigating her to court saying that ICPC should obey the court order and maintain status quo,’’ Mandy said.
A third speaker under anonymity, Sidibe, told us that despite all those the woman was trying to fight, taking even the Board to court as well as the D-G etc., unfortunately, there was legal administrative procedures that must be followed in the case.
Sidibe stated that these procedures were all legal which the public service rules had already spelt out which was that in such a case, a committee should be formed and investigation carried out and in the course of the investigation, the person must step aside.
“She has to step aside and that was what was asked and required of her, but she refused and eventually came in with some people and burgled her way into the office and said nobody could remove her.
“The funny thing is that she knows the rule and even is in custody of public service rules which she is supposed to interpret, but she ended up acting in a shameful manner,’’ Sidibe said.
According to the third source, Mrs Magdalene went on rampage at her visit to the agency and made frivolous claims and was threatening everybody who demonstrated maturity over the matter.
According to our three sources, staffs of the agency now breathe a sigh of relief after her departure and exit and everywhere was calm compared to when she was around.