Reps clerk decry politicisation of religion in public service

The Clerk of the House of Representatives, Dr Yahaya Danzaria has decried the politicisation of religion in the public service.

Speaking during a 3-Day training workshop for staff of the House of Representatives held in Abuja, he blamed politicians for the unfortunate development which is impacting negatively on the performance of civil servants.

Said he: “Religion is another powerful instrument exploited by public officers to achieve private gains. It is a tool in the hand of politicians as well as some top civil servants used for private and selfish ends.

“Despite the Constitutional provisions which are also reflected in the civil service rules, religion is often used to create division in civil service institutions by leaders who pursue primordial interests and ethnic sentiments.

“What follows at the leadership level is divided loyalty as officers may tend to follow those in authority who professes the same religion with them.”

Danzaria further identified work ethics, values, ethnicity, conflict of Interest, education, religion and leakage of official secrets as some of the factors responsible for the negative attitude of civil servants in the discharge of their duties.

He stressed the need for civil servants to maintain secrecy on official government documents in line with the oath of secrecy of 1962.

He also frowns d at the use of ethnic and sectional sentiment to confer an unmerited and undue advantage to people of the same ethnic origin.

“This happens in many ways including a situation where a particular part or ethnic group attempts to dominate the leadership of some government institutions because of the number of officers from such region. The leadership of such institutions is treated as the exclusive preserve of the dominating region,” he added.

He enjoined the parliamentary staffers to embrace true legislative work ethics and behavioural conduct in their workplaces.