More than 1,000 Public Servants in the Nigerian State of Ekiti have been suspended for becoming too involved in the recent national elections.
A lobby group in the State, the Ekiti Positive Forum (EPF), has alleged that the PS staff were being victimised for voting for President Goodluck Jonathan in the election.
In a statement signed by the Group’s chairman, Chief David Oke and Secretary, Gbenga Adekunle, the EFP claimed that the Public Servants had been issued with suspension letters over two days.
“It is worrisome that a Government that was installed through the instrument of the rule of law is now victimising workers because they were suspected to have voted for the Peoples Democratic Party [President Jonathan’s party],” the statement said.
The EPF urged traditional rulers and other citizens to prevail on the State Government “to desist from victimising Public Servants, who were only carrying out their civic responsibilities as prescribed by the laws of the country.”
State Commissioner for Information, Communication, Civic Orientation and Strategy, Fola Richie-Adewusi said the workers called to account by the State Government were those who worked as political party agents during the election.
Mrs Richie-Adewusi said the suspended workers flouted an order of the State Government that no Public Servant must play politics overtly, adding that the number of affected workers was not readily available.
According to the Commissioner, the disciplinary action affected all politically active staff in the Public Service, irrespective of their political affiliation, adding that it would also be a deterrent to others.
Apr262011