Federal Civil Service To Undergo Re-Verification And Re-Validation Of Credentials

All Federal Civil servants are to undergo compulsory verification and revalidation of their credentials and service records. This directive came from the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Danladi Kifasi, who directed officials handling the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System to undertake the exercise. In a circular issued by through the Permanent Secretary (Special Duties) in his office, Amina Shamaki, Mr. Kifasi stated that the screening should cover the verification and revalidation of vital documents belonging to all workers in the core Ministries,
Departments and Agencies. The exercise, reportedly in its second phase, would begin in Abuja from Monday, May 11 to May 22, 2015, and May 18 to 22, 2015 in the North-East and North Central zones. Mr. Kifasi intimated that the exercise would provide a centralised database for the Nigerian Public Service with a single, accurate source of employee information that would aid government’s manpower planning and decision making. The decision by the Federal Government to screen workers under its payroll was necessitated by an a case of alleged certificate forgery involving a staff of the National Broadcasting Commission, Caroline Animalu, which PREMIUM Times brought to the fore of public notice. Ms. Animalu, a confidential secretary at NBC, had been an employee of the Commission for over 20 years. Ms. Animalu (formerly Carolene U. Umelue) gained employment by using a forged National Diploma certificate in Secretarial Studies purportedly issued by Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State (formerly Ogun State Polytechnic). Her certificate was confirmed as fake after as fake, following an official investigation and document verification by the NBC. The Principal Assistant Registrar (Exams and Records) of the Polytechnic, Olusegun Ogunpola, through a letter titled: “Re: Request for Document Verification: Carolene U. Umelue” dated June 23, 2014 stated categorically that the certificate was fake. The report was forwarded to the Director General of the NBC through the Zonal Director, Ibadan Zone, on June 24, 2014. The report indicted Ms. Animalu and recommended she be ultimately dismissed after facing appropriate disciplinary committee, in line with Public Service Rule. Nigeria’s public service rule considers the presentation of forged credentials a case of gross misconduct punishable by outright dismissal. However, PREMIUM TIMES is unsure if the disciplinary action against Ms. Animalu has been effected.