- Seek intervention for immediate reinstatement
By Paul Effiong, Abuja
Some federal civil servants, who claim they were unlawfully dismissed from the Federal Ministries of Environment and Works, have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the National Assembly to intervene and facilitate their immediate reinstatement.
The affected workers also called on Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, labour unions and well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the Federal Civil Service Commission, FCSC, to implement a Senate resolution directing their reinstatement and redeployment to their respective ministries.
The appeal was made during a press briefing in Abuja.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Mrs Joy Eseoghene said she and her colleagues had endured immense hardship since their dismissal in 2022.
According to her, they have struggled to meet basic needs, including food, rent, school fees and medical bills, forcing many of them to sell personal belongings, including mobile phones and other valuables, just to survive.
She said: “We have gone through the proper channels in our quest for justice. The National Assembly investigated the matter, and both the 9th and the current 10th Assemblies ruled in our favour.
Yet, despite numerous letters and directives from superior authorities, the commission has blatantly refused to implement the resolutions of the National Assembly and other relevant authorities by reinstating us.
“We do not know where else to turn. If the commission, which is a creation of an Act of Parliament, cannot respect the authority of the National Assembly, then it appears to have placed itself above the laws of Nigeria.
“This unlawful termination has caused us immense pain and hardship. We are therefore appealing to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and give us the Renewed Hope he promised Nigerians.
We also call on the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to defend the authority of the Senate and ensure that no institution undermines its resolutions under his watch.
We equally appeal to VeryDarkMan, Ordinary President Ahmed Isah of Berekete Family, labour unions, social media influencers and human rights activists to come to our aid. We are Nigerians and deserve the opportunity to earn an honest living.”
Eseoghene disclosed that, in its Votes and Proceedings of December 10, 2025, the Senate resolved that the FCSC should immediately reinstate the eight affected civil servants and redeploy them to their respective ministries.
She added that the Senate also directed the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, OHCSF, to ensure the officers’ reinstatement and posting back to their various ministries.
According to her, the other affected officers are Dangla Elisha Bitrus, Attahiru Mohammed Enagi, Ani Patrick Ikechukwu, Ukueku Oghenetega, Opara Sylvia Adaoma, Opara Anthony Chukwuemeka and Oloriegbe Charles Inamudu.
She explained that the Senate’s resolution followed the consideration of a petition submitted on behalf of the affected officers by Throneroom Attorneys, led by Mr John Iyafokhai, on March 13, 2024.
She recalled that the Senate referred the petition to its Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions for investigation and recommendations.
According to her, acting under the powers conferred by Sections 62, 88 and 89 of the Constitution, the committee summoned the Chairman of the FCSC on May 7, 2024. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Ministers of Environment and Works, as well as the former Director of Recruitment in the FCSC, Mr Ibrahim El-Yakubu, were also invited to appear before the committee.
She said the public hearing took place at Senate Meeting Room 120 on May 21, July 11 and November 27, 2024.
“The committee’s investigation established that we, the petitioners, were duly employed by the FCSC, with our appointment letters properly signed by the Director of Recruitment and Appointments.
“The investigation also confirmed that our names were published in the official gazette and that we participated in the mandatory 2020/2022 Confirmation and Promotion Examination, COMPRO, conducted by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
“Upon the conclusion of its investigation, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Neda Imasuen (APC, Edo South), presented the panel’s report containing three clear recommendations.”
She quoted the recommendations as follows:
“That the Senate urge the Federal Civil Service Commission and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to reinstate all eight dismissed officers — Joy Eseoghene, Dangla Elisha Bitrus, Attahiru Mohammed Enagi, Ani Patrick Ikechukwu, Ukueku Oghenetega, Opara Sylvia Adaoma, Opara Anthony Chukwuemeka and Oloriegbe Charles Inamudu — and post them back to their respective ministries to resume work.
“That the Senate urge the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to unfreeze the salary accounts of the affected officers and pay all outstanding salaries and entitlements from the date of their dismissal.
“That the Senate direct its Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure that the Chairman of the FCSC and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation comply with the Senate resolutions on the matter.”
Eseoghene said the recommendations were subsequently adopted by the Senate and reflected in its Votes and Proceedings of December 10, 2025.
She further stated that following the resolution, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr Kamoru Ogunlana, wrote to the Chairman of the FCSC on January 29, 2026, conveying the Senate’s decision, adding that the letter was acknowledged by the commission on February 3, 2026.
According to her, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance, Senator Garba Maidoki, also wrote to the FCSC Chairman on December 16, 2025, January 21, 2026, and February 25, 2026, urging compliance, but without success.
“The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, in a letter dated March 29, 2026, directed the FCSC to comply with the Senate resolution, but this has not been done.
Similarly, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, through a letter dated May 14, 2026, signed by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Dr Ibrahim Kana, directed the commission to take the necessary action in line with the Senate resolution, but that directive has also not been complied with,” she said.
Eseoghene recalled that the 9th House of Representatives, under the leadership of the then Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, had earlier received the same petition on November 21, 2022.
She said the matter was referred to the House Committee on Public Petitions, which concluded its investigation on March 23, 2023, in favour of the petitioners.
According to her, the committee’s then Chairman, Rep. Jerry Alagbaoso, presented the report before the House, as reflected in the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, June 6, 2023.
However, she noted that the 9th House of Representatives was unable to ensure the implementation of its resolution before the expiration of its tenure, making it necessary for the petition to be re-presented before the 10th Senate.
