Stakeholders in the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) has frowned at the continuous stay, retainment and domination by a retired civil servant, Engr. Anthony Okuwe, in the commissions, calling on the state Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to wade in and institute the culture of fairness, accountability and equity.
Anthony Okuwe, an Engineer and a retired civil servant, is presently the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director, Project in DESOPADEC. He is been alleged of handling and treating confidential files and runs the affairs of the board with impunity after retirement from the civil service, an act they condemned.
His alleged continuous stay and handling of contracts by himself, has sparked off anger amongst those concerned prompting them to question the hiring policies of the commissions. They argued that Engr. Anthony Okuwe, may have had experience in his job, but having served his time as a civil servant, there is the need for him to step aside for others to grow.
As at the time of filing this report, popular Delta Investigative Journalist, Fejiro Oliver has already posted in his facebook handle accusing tye board chairman of corruption. Also, concerned stakeholders have started pointing accusing fingers on the leadership of the commission over its decisions to employ retired civil servant when there capable hands. They alleged that despite his retirement, he still cut the short in the commission, a situation they condemned and called on the state governor to quickly intervened.
They alleged that Engr. Anthony Okuwe, is solely responsible for the execution of a larger percentage of contracts thereby denying other stakeholders of their rights and this has raised so many concerns about the leadership of the commission. They maintained that if the leadership is truly devoid of corruption, they will work in tandem with the policies and constitution establishing the DESOPADEC.
According an anonymous stakeholder, “We are right in calling for the intervention of the state governor to address this issue promptly. The governor must ensure that the leadership of DESOPADEC follows the guidelines and regulations set forth in the civil service. Any deviation from these principles can harm the reputation and credibility of the commission.
“It is essential for organizations to ensure that hiring policies are fair and equitable to all stakeholders involved. The practice of allowing a retired civil servant to remain in a position of power and influence within the commission may lead to issues of favoritism, nepotism, and corruption”. He added.
While some concerned Deltans also add their voices to this in saying that it is a situation of ethical concerns surrounding fairness, accountability, and transparency in the operations of DESOPADEC., noting that by allowing a retired civil servant like Engr. Anthony Okuwe to continue to hold sway in the commission and allegedly handle contracts, the leadership of the commission is potentially violating ethical principles. some are also saying that it could be a case of vast experience and expertise that has brought Engr. Anthony Okuwe back, but others are of the opinion that he should bow down and live the stage.
Pundits are saying that the commission must consider the need for equity, transparency and accountability in its hiring policies to avoid oppression and deprivation. They said by retaining Engr. Okuwe’s services, DESOPADEC may be perceived as ignoring equity in the system and called on the state governor to address the issue without delay. They urged the governor to direct the chairman of the board to ensure that the guidelines and regulations of civil service are adhered to without compromise.
It is therefore imperative for DESOPADEC to prioritize transparency, equity, and accountability in its operations to avoid any ethical violations. The state governor’s intervention is necessary to address these concerns and ensure that the commission operates in a fair and ethical manner.
Efforts made to reach Engr. Anthony Okuwe to respond to the accusations by stakeholders however prove abortive as his mobile phone number says not reachable.