Some communities in Edo State on Sunday raised alarm in Benin over the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’s delay in releasing the competency test results conducted to fill the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR).
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.
It would be recalled that the CEO position was advertised in the National Daily on August 9, 2023, while the written and oral exams were conducted on October 10 and 12, 2023.
The host communities are Uwan, Ugbogiobo, Evboneka, Iyowa, Oluku, Okokhuo, Abumwere, Isikhukhu, Ekowe, Ekodobo, Azalama, Ozoguo, Obazuwa, Ekiadolor, Iguediaken, and Okunuvbe.
The host communities, under their Elders’ Forum, petitioned the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, demanding urgent action to resolve the growing crisis.
They added that the alleged suppression of the results had caused a delay in appointing a substantive CEO for the Institute.
A copy of the petition, made available to newsmen in Benin, was addressed through Idahosa Moses and Co, and copied to key offices, including the Senate President, Chief of Staff to the President, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, and the Head of Service of the Federation.
The petition was signed by Omobude Ali Joseph, Aighobahi Daniel, Omoruyi Jolly, Ahanor Ekhosuehi, and Ofamukoro Matthew for the communities’ Elders’ Forum.
According to the petitioners, “We are stakeholders in NIFOR affairs and we want enduring peace in the Institute.”
The petition underscored the alleged suppression of competency test results conducted to evaluate candidates for the CEO position.
The petitioners asserted that the examination was meant to ensure a merit-based appointment but alleged that the results remained concealed, fueling speculation and uncertainty.
They described the delay as a deliberate attempt to undermine transparency, which is now causing unrest among staff and other stakeholders in the institute.
“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.
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“The said exam/interview was a criterion set out for the selection and appointment of a suitable and substantive CEO for the institute.
“The non-release of the names of successful candidates who sat for the competency test months ago are potential factors fueling the gathering storm that will soon implode if urgent actions are not taken,” they stated.
The petitioners warned of an imminent implosion in the institute, noting that the development is already gathering momentum following the alleged large-scale administrative ineptitude, victimization of persons agitating that there should be an end to the incidence of an Acting Director/CEO.
“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 added.
