Several communities in Edo State have appealed to the Federal Government for transparency in the selection process of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR).
According to the petitioners, the CEO position was publicly advertised on August 9, 2023, with written and oral examinations conducted on October 10 and 12 of the same year. However, one year later, the results remain unpublished, prompting concerns among stakeholders and claims of deliberate suppression.
The Elders’ Forum representing Uwan, Ugbogiobo, Evboneka, Iyowa, Oluku, and other host communities submitted their petition to the Senate President, the Chief of Staff to the President, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Head of Service of the Federation.
The petition, drafted through Idahosa Moses and Co., urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to ensure fairness and merit in the appointment process.
“We, the undersigned persons and indigenes of NIFOR host communities, most passionately appeal to you, sir, to probe into the deliberate non-disclosure of the outcome of the competency test and interview conducted by NIFOR,” the petitioners stated.
They warned that concealing the results could lead to unrest, citing existing dissatisfaction among staff and stakeholders over alleged administrative inefficiencies and prolonged acting leadership at the institute.
The petitioners emphasized that failing to publish the results violates public service rules, particularly those mandating the retirement of directors who have served for over eight years.
“Failure to release the results violates public service rules, which mandate the retirement of staff who have spent eight years as director, a standard allegedly flouted at NIFOR,” they noted.
The communities called on the federal government to uphold the established guidelines for managing agricultural research institutes by appointing a CEO to avert the breakdown of law and order and ensure public trust at NIFOR.
