FCT minister reviews retrenchment exercise

Bankole Makinde, Abuja - 10.03.2008

THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar, at the weekend cancelled the last retrenchment exercise carried out by the FCTA under the leadership of the immediate past FCT minister, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai.

Against this background, Dr. Umar inaugurated a high-powered committee to look into all cases emanating from the previous rightsizing exercise by the FCT administration.

The minister, who inaugurated the committee during the FCT executive committee meeting in Abuja, noted that there were a series of complaints and appeals against the exercise and “as a government, we are concerned and will endeavour to ensure that justice was meted out to all cadres of civil servants affected by the exercise.”

According to him, the rightsizing exercise was characterised by a series of appeals and complaints which had called for a thorough review to ensure that justice was done in line with President Umaru Yar’Adua’s policy of due process.

Dr. Umar reiterated that President Yar’Adua, when he took over the mantle of leadership of the country on May 29, 2007, promised Nigerians that due process, justice, equity and fair play would be adhered to, in order to put to an end the era of survival of the fittest.