Sacked government employees appeal to Tinubu and Akpabio for help in fight to get their jobs back

A group of federal civil servants, who claim to have been illegally dismissed from the Federal Ministries of Environment and Works, are seeking the intervention of President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly leadership in their prolonged fight for reinstatement.

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These civil servants have also appealed to Civil Society Organisations, labour unions, and well-meaning Nigerians to pressure the Federal Civil Service Commission to implement a Senate resolution that directs their recall and deployment to the Federal Ministries of Environment and Works.

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Mrs Joy Eseoghene, one of the affected civil servants, addressed the media in Abuja on Sunday, revealing that she and her colleagues have faced immense hardship since their dismissal in 2022, forcing them to sell personal property to meet basic needs like food, rent, and medical bills.

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Eseoghene stated that despite going through the proper channels to seek justice, the National Assembly's ruling in their favour has been blatantly disregarded by the Federal Civil Service Commission, prompting their appeal to President Bola Tinubu for intervention and relief.

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The civil servants are calling on Senate President Sen. Godswill Akpabio to defend the authority of the Senate and prevent anyone from undermining the institution, while also seeking help from labour unions, social media influencers, and human rights activists.

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A Senate resolution dated December 10, 2025, ordered the Federal Civil Service Commission to reinstate the eight affected civil servants, including Dangla Bitrus, Attahiru Enagi, Patrick Ikechukwu, Ukueku Oghenetega, Opara Adaoma, Opara Chukwuemeka, and Oloriegbe Inamud, and post them back to their respective ministries.

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The resolution was a result of a petition considered by the Senate on March 13, 2024, which led to an investigation by the Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petition, and subsequent public hearings on May 7, 2024, May 21, 2024, July 11, 2024, and November 27, 2024.

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The investigation found that the petitioners were duly employed by the Federal Civil Service Commission, with signed appointment letters, and their names were published in the official gazette, and they had sat for the compulsory 2020/2022 Confirmation/Promotion Examination.

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The Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petition, chaired by Sen. Neda Imasuen, presented a report with three recommendations, including the reinstatement of the eight dismissed officers, unfreezing their salary accounts, and payment of arrears of salaries and entitlements.

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The Senate adopted the recommendations, as captured in the December 10, 2025, Votes and Proceedings, and directed the Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure the Federal Civil Service Commission's compliance with the Senate resolutions.

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Following the resolution, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr Kamoru Ogunlana, wrote to the Federal Civil Service Commission chairman on January 29, 2026, to convey the Senate's resolution, which was acknowledged on February 3, 2026.

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The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Compliance, Sen. Garba Maidoki, also wrote to the Federal Civil Service Commission chairman on December 16, 2025, January 21, 2026, and February 25, 2026, to ensure compliance, but to no avail.

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The Head of Civil Service of the Federation directed the Federal Civil Service Commission to comply with the Senate resolutions in a letter dated March 29, 2026, while the Secretary to the Government of the Federation also directed the commission to take necessary action in a letter dated May 14, 2026.

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Eseoghene recalled that the 9th House of Representatives, led by then Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, had also received the petition on November 21, 2022, and the investigation was concluded in favour of the petitioners on March 23, 2023.

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The then Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Rep. Jerry Alagbaoso, presented the report on the floor of the 9th House of Reps, as reflected in the Vote and Proceedings of Tuesday, June 6, 2023, but the house could not ensure implementation before the end of the 9th National Assembly.

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Eseoghene urged all Nigerians to come to their aid, enabling them to return to work and feed their families, as they have exhausted all avenues for seeking justice.