House of Reps Intervenes in Favour of Dismissed NPF, NAHCON Staff

In a move to address perceived administrative injustices, the House of Representatives has stepped in to reverse the dismissals of two personnel from the Nigeria Police Force and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria. This decision follows the adoption of reports by the House Committee on Public Petitions, led by Bitrus Kwamoti, representing Demsa/Numan/Lamurde Federal Constituency of Adamawa State. The committee's recommendations were based on exhaustive inquiries into the cases of Inspector Fidelis Uti of the Nigeria Police Force and Mr Akinwale Tayo, a former Chief Administrative Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, whose dismissals were deemed unlawful and in violation of due process. According to the lawmakers, the action is aimed at upholding the rule of law and correcting the injustices faced by the affected individuals. Inspector Uti had petitioned the House of Representatives on February 28, 2024, over his dismissal from the police force and the subsequent withholding of his salaries for years. The committee's report, which was adopted by the House, directed the NPF to immediately reinstate Inspector Uti, as his dismissal was found to be predicated on a repealed law and in violation of his constitutional right to a fair hearing. Furthermore, the police authorities were instructed to compute and pay all outstanding salaries, allowances, and entitlements due to Inspector Uti from April 2016 to date. The House also ordered the NPF to conduct an internal review of the administrative lapses that led to this injustice and take appropriate disciplinary action against officers found culpable. In addition, the force was urged to strengthen its personnel and payroll management systems to prevent similar occurrences in the future. In a related development, the House also ordered the reinstatement of Mr Akinwale Tayo, whose dismissal by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria was found to be unlawful, unconstitutional, and a nullity. The committee directed NAHCON to immediately reinstate Mr Tayo to his position as Chief Administrative Officer without loss of seniority and to pay all outstanding salaries, allowances, and entitlements due to him from the date of dismissal to the date of reinstatement. The commission was also instructed to ensure that Mr Tayo is not subjected to any form of victimisation, harassment, or discrimination in the course of his duties. The controversy surrounding Mr Tayo's dismissal stems from his participation in the 2023 Oyo State governorship election as the Labour Party candidate, which was seen as a violation of public service rules and the Electoral Act 2022. The House's intervention in these cases highlights the growing legislative scrutiny of personnel management practices within public institutions and the commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of citizens.