Confusion In Aviation Ministry Over Retirement Of Perm Sec

There is confusion in the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development over the whereabouts of Dr. Ibrahim Kana, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry.

A strong source close to the ministry confided in our correspondent on Tuesday that Kana who was appointed Permanent Secretary in June 2021, alongside four others by late President Muhammadu Buhari, had spent mandatory four years of one term in office.

But a ministry source told our correspondent on enquiries that Kana embarked on casual leave, but was unsure of when he would return to the office.

Kana had assumed office in the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development in January this year, having previously served in the same position in the Ministry of Defence.

He took over from Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, who retired from the service the same year.

A source close to the ministry who didn’t want her name in print because she was not authorised to speak on the issue, alleged that Mr. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development may not be aware of Kana’s absence from the office.

It was gathered that prior to this time, Kana had also lobbied officials of the Head of Service of the Federation of Nigeria for the renewal of his tenure, but failed.

Our source gathered further that he had also sought an audience from the presidency on the possible extension of his Permanent Secretary position, but as at the time of filing this report, he was yet to get access to the presidency.

The source claimed that Kana had locked up his office since Wednesday last week without informing Keyamo.

The source said: “As it stands, nobody seems to know the whereabouts of the Permanent Secretary, including the minister. He last came to the office Wednesday last week. Before now, some concerned citizens had written a petition against. They complained that he had overstayed as a Permanent Secretary.

“The civil service rule is that you can only stay in office for more than four years as a civil servant. Though, it is renewable for another four years provided your performance is satisfactory and you get the approval of Mr. President. The reverse is the case with this situation.”

However, another ministry source told our correspondent on enquiries that Kana had embarked on casual leave.

The source who equally declined mentioned, claimed that Kana had handed over to the Director of Human Resources before embarking on casual leave last week.

The source said: “In the civil service, once you are embarking on any journey out of office, you are to hand it over to somebody. I can tell you that he embarked on a casual leave last week and he handed it over to the Director of Human Resources.”

Kana was in June 2021, appointed as a Permanent Secretary. He was the youngest member of the elite cadre in Nigeria’s civil service among the other four as at the time of his appointment.

He had joined the civil service in 2007 as a Medical Doctor and Consultant Ophthalmologist.

At different times, Kana had worked in close collaboration with the President’s Office, state governors and all large-scale health sector Development Partners active in Nigeria.

Before his elevation in 2021, he had held several positions in the federal civil service, including Head of the Federal Government Staff Eye Clinic, Abuja, Technical Advisor to the Minister of State for Health, Head of Health Desk, Office of Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs under the leadership of Amina Muhammed, the current Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations.

COURTESY: independent.ng