Imomoemi Otutu
Following the recent directive of outgoing Bayelsa state governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson to the effect that all political appointees, except those that have critical roles to play in the ongoing transition process remained relieved of their appointments, former Rector of the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, Yenagoa, Mr. Timi Johnson, a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor attached to the institute as Rector has reportedly challenged the governor over the relief of his appointment, insisting that he would not handover to the most senior officer in the institute until the governor hands over to the incoming administration on Febuary 14, 2020.
In a swift reaction, the Registrar of the institute, Leo Adeh said the former Rector, whose appointment letter merely bears the word “Rector” with salary grade of a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) is like every other political appointee whose salary is equally domiciled in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government and not in the institute.
According to the Registrar, “Mr. Timi Johnson was a political appointee and not a status Rector as enshrined in the guidelines of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for appointment of a status Rector (copy of appointment letter attached).
The Registrar, in a letter to the former Rector, dated December 17,2019, stated, “I hereby request that you submit your handover note to the Registrar of the Institute through the internal auditor, who has been directed to take inventory of the institute’s property and those of the state government in your possession prior to the dissolution of all political appointees on December 16, 2019”.
He added: “Contrary to the wrong insinuation and misinformation that you are peddling around to the effect that you are a Rector and not a political appointee and therefore not affected by the governor’s directive, I wish to state and clarify as follows:
That with effect from the date of the dissolution of all political appointees, (December 16, 2019), you have ceased to be the Chief Executive of the International Istitute of Tourism and Hospitality and you could no longer carry out any official responsibilities in that regard”.
“This letter is imperative because of your penchant for disregard for our rules and procedures and lack of respect for superior constituted authority. Please, be guided”, the Registrar cautioned.
Recall that the outgoing governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Kemela Okara on Monday, December 16, 2019, announced the dissolution of all political appointees, except those whose roles were critical to the ongoing transition process.
The statement reads in part: “This is to inform all political appointees of the Restoration Government of His Excellency, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, that as a government in transition we have been battling to meet our diverse financial obligations”.
“In seeking to manage these financial obligations it became imperative to give priority to the payment of salaries to civil servants who have since been paid their November salaries.
“With effectively one month to go to the end of this government, only political appointees whose positions are critical to the transition process will be retained henceforth to manage this process. We trust that all political appointees appreciate the enormous sacrifices Government has made with the unprecedented number of political appointments made from 2012 to date”.
A source at the office of the Secretary to the State Government who pleaded anonymity, revealed that the former Secretary to the State Government, HRH Sir Serena Dokubo Spiff, being a seasoned administrator and renowned legal luminary was privy to the fact that the former Rector had no academic qualifications to be appointed as a status Rector in line with the guidelines of NBTE, hence, he placed him on the rank of a senior special assistant, just to fulfil the directive of the governor to issue him a letter as Rector.
Further investigation by this reporter revealed that Mr. Timi Johnson hails from Trofani community in same Sagbama local government area where the outgoing governor comes from too.
Another source at the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, Yenagoa, said the sacked former Rector (a senior special assistant) had already zeroed his mind on collecting the December subvention of the Institute as his parting gift, not knowing that there are two petitions against him and the Acting Bursar, Mr. Martins Diegbegha at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) bothering diversion of institute’s funds, salary padding, irregular grade and steps placements, including lack of regard for procurement and due process laws, to nail him.
The source who never wanted to be mentioned in this report said that unknown to the former Rector, the December subvention was a trap being set to rope him into more trouble with the EFCC.
All attempts to reach the former Rector comments proved abortive as his lines were off.
