Ahead of the Year 2021 promotion exercise, the Oyo state House of Assembly Service Commission (OYHASC), on Wednesday, organized a sensitization program for scheduled-officers selected from the commission and the Oyo State House of Assembly.
The sensitization program according to the chairman of the commission, Rt Hon Abdulwasi Musah, was organized towards achieving a hitch-free implementation of the Year 2021 promotions exercise.
Musah explained why the House of Assembly Service Commission Board must be on ground at all times like the Civil Service Commission adding that if otherwise, promotion exercise and other activities will be stagnant.
While commending Governor Seyi Makinde, he added that the Ajimobi-led government constituted the commission board for only 4 years and created lacuna for four years.
He lamented the negative effect of the lacuna on the staff and the administration of the House of Assembly and House of Assembly Service Commission.
His words: “We are happy that our time in the anal of Oyo state House of Assembly Service Commission has marked a significant turn of events. Before this present commission, the Oyo state House of Assembly Service Commission has been suffering from a comatose administrative bottleneck.
“There’s a need to always have the House of Assembly Service Commission on board all the time. If this isn’t happening, the staff and other things will be stagnant because as things are, the mainstream civil service which is the mother of all the services can’t administer on the staff of the legislative service anymore because of that Independence in the administration of our staff.
“Before we came on board, many of our staff who are due for promotion, apart from the backlog of promotions could not be promoted because there was nobody to carry on the promotion exercise. For the eight years of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the commission was only in existence for just 4 years. The remaining 4 years, there was no commission. Many staff who have gotten higher certificates could not have their service converted as they wanted. There were so many things that were missing when the commission wasn’t on ground. And that’s why immediately this commission came on board, we tackled the challenges that we met on ground and all their arrears that happened before our arrival were cleared.”
Abdulwasi stressed the need to have a good working relationship with the Civil Service Commission which he regarded as the mother and mainstream of other service commissions.
He added the Oyo state House of Assembly Service Commission under his leadership, has never had any reason to be confrontational with the Civil Service Commission.
He advised the selected staff to be diligent in the discharge of their duties.
His words: “The Oyo state House of Assembly Service Commission has never had any cause for confrontational with the Civil Service Commission because we realize that in spite of our independence, we have a mother which is the Civil Service Commission. We got our inspiration from you. Anytime we have issues which need clarifications, we contact them from time to time.
“The program of today is about promotion exercise for the year 2021. These are the staff who can be regarded as stakeholders in the promotion exercise. They are here to learn the rudiment of the promotion. They are here to be guided so that there will be minimum mistake if at all there will be one. And so that they will carry on their responsibilities with fairness, equity and justice.”
Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker of the Oyo state House of Assembly, Rt Hon Muhammed Fadeyi charged the selected officers on neutrality and confidentiality.
Fadeyi advised them to do away with vengeance urging them to make judicious use of the opportunity given to them.
He said: “Let me welcome all selected participants to this sensitization program organized for officers in the legislative service.
“I understand we are from various departments. You should count yourself lucky that you have been selected to be part of this exercise. In a short while, they will be calling on your colleagues who will be facing you. And in their facing you, I want to urge you to be neutral in whatever you do. Don’t go with the mindset of vengeance because that’s common in Civil Service.
“As I speak to you, we have received some petitions concerning this exercise. Some promotions are being delayed, some are being shortchanged. You that have been selected, it’s just an opportunity and you have to make use of the opportunity.
“Some files will be brought to you. People’s documents will be brought to you. Everything you see in the files must remain in the files. So I want to plead with us that this is just the beginning. By God’s grace, you are all going to rise together from one cadre to another until retirement. Thank you for having me and I pray that the exercise will go hitch free. We will treat the petition with us at our own level.”
Similarly, Alhaji Kamoru Aderibigbe, chairman of Civil Service Commission commended Governor Seyi Makinde for approving the conduct of Year 2021 promotion.
While urging staff of the commission and assembly to be committed to work, he added that the Governor is committed to welfare of workers in the state.
He said: “It behooves me to commend and appreciate, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State Engr. Seyi Makinde FNSE for the gracious approval to conduct Year 2021 promotion which the process is on going in all MDAS. Without mincing words, His Excellency is greatly committed to welfare of workers in the State.”
Some other dignitaries at the event were commissioners at the Oyo Assembly Service Commission Mr Moses Ojoawo; Commissioner 1, Mrs Yinyiade Ladoye; Commissioner 2, Hon Ogundoke Hassan; Commissioner 3, Mr Adekunle Alabanla; Commissioner 4.
The Clerk of the House, Mrs Oludara Awe who was represented by Mr Samuel Kolawole, Director of Admin. and Supply, Secretary to the Commission, Mr Olukunle Akinlade and others.