Dismissed Adamawa commission members protest govt’s disregard for reinstatement order 

Chairman and members of the Adamawa State Civil Service Commission who were dismissed when Governor Ahmadu Fintiri dissolved the commission last year, have cried out over refusal by the government to reinstate them after a court asked it to do so.

The commission chairman and members were appointed by the previous administration of Sen Jibrilla Bindow, but Rt Hon Ahmadu Fintiri dismissed them when he dissolved boards and commissions on coming in as governor in May last year, following which they filed a suit at the National Industrial Court demanding reinstatement.

Shuaibu Bobbo Hamid (Chairman), Mohammed Abdu Mayas (Commissioner 1), Amina Kabiru (Commissioner 2), Aliyu Sadiq (Commissioner 3) and Shehu Audu (Commissioner 4), filed the suit and were accordingly listed as claimants, with the state governor, Attorney General, and the State House of Assembly as respondents.

The claimants had taken out an originating summons on June 7, 2019 after Governor Fintiri had in a broadcast two days earlier, on June 5, dissolved the commission

Ruling on the suit, the court held that the dissolution of the commission and subsequent termination of the appointment of the chairman and the four commissioners contravened the law.

Justice Kiyersohot Damulak subsequently ordered that the claimants as Chairman and Commissioners respectively of the Adamawa State Civil Service Commission, having been appointed by the then governor of Adamawa state after confirmation by the state House of Assembly, are entitled to a five-year tenure.

“The claimants are entitled to their salaries and allowances from 15/04/2019 to 14/04/2024 unless otherwise removed for inability to discharge the functions of their offices,” he ruled.

After waiting in vain for the ordered reinstatement, the affected individuals are crying out loud.

Mohammed Abdu Mayas who was Commissioner 1 in the commission lamented that since delivery of the judgment, “we have neither been recognized nor paid our salaries or entitlements.”

He said they are all the more disturbed after hearing that the government is about to name new members for the commission.

The Attorney General of the state and Commissioner of Justice, Afraimu Jingi, who was contacted on the matter, said he was unaware of the court order.