Widely applauded for his outstanding story of rising from a cleaner to an assistant general manager, Alhaji Bashiru Akinwande Saminu has advised the government to review the work duration of public servants before retirement.
Alhaji Saminu, an Ijede-based chartered accountant in an interview with Ikorodu News Network (INN) expressed that municipal subordinates would thoroughly maximise the line of obligation if the length of service is appropriately allotted and acknowledged.
He explained, “I was employed as a cleaner because I only had a school certificate, but with determination, I went back to school (after working for 2yrs), completed my ND, HND and also Master’s degree within the space of 5yrs.
“(I got the approval to return based on an agreement that I’ll return to service afterwards), So each time I depart school, I’ll always return to continue my service which was meant to span 35yrs”.
According to Alhaji Saminu, He spent over 5yrs in school and was later elevated in the ranks to the position of assistant general manager due to his successive presentation of results after studying.
Pointing out that his back and forth with academics was not on a part-time basis, Alhaji Saminu disclosed that during those years, he was not paid until he returned exclusively back to work.
He continued, “So when you have 35yrs to discharge your duties as a public servant, and removing my active 5yrs in school, it meant I only functioned and got appreciated for just 30yrs”.
“Yes, it is sure we can’t fight the government’s policy, and also you can’t shift a goalpost when the game has already started. But my point is that the system needs to review the policy and make the service years more reasonable for civil subordinates”.
“I am 55yrs and already retired, but what am saying is for the future of public service, to aid those who would eventually intend to return to school and boost their professional status, the system needs to work on models to appreciate such planning individuals”.
“In a nutshell, am saying that if the public service can run straight to 60yrs, then so be it, but also, if it’s for 35yrs only, then such people that plan to return to study should be given the benefit of going to upgrade their intellectual capacity, knowing that their service years are already elapsing”.
Alhaji Saminu maintained that, if the government through its legislative arm decides not to appreciate public servants during their return to academia, then those years should be deducted from their active service timeline, so their commitments would be entirely maximised and appreciated.
“The policy needs to be re-enacted, because if a person intends to return to school without payment, then his/her schooling years should be deducted from their active service timeline as well”.
“It is either 60yrs straight or 35yrs with pause and continuation policy to promptly articulate their duration of service” Alhaji Saminu rationalised.
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