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Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has reinstated the former Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman in the state, Kolawole Olaiya into the civil service.
His reinstatement follows the report and recommendation of the State Committee on the Review of Irregular Appointments chaired by the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi which nullified Olaiya’s disengagement from the civil service.
The Nation reports that the reinstatement was also in accordance with the order of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Akure Division.
Olaiya, a lawyer, was compulsorily retired from the civil service in February 2016 by the administration of former Governor Ayo Fayose which accused him of involvement in partisan politics.
He allegedly got into trouble with Fayose in September 2015 when he warned the ex-governor against diverting the bailout funds received from the Federal Government to pay the arrears of workers salaries and retirees benefits.
The former TUC boss was queried by the Fayose administration for speaking to the press on an alleged plan to divert the bailout funds which prompted the administration to set up an Administrative Panel of Inquiry that subsequently recommended his compulsory retirement.
Apart from being axed from service, Olaiya, who was a Principal Legal Officer in the Ministry of Justice was also demoted from Grade Level 12 to the position of State Counsel Grade Level 10.
He filed a suit challenging his compulsory retirement and demotion at the NICN.
After a two-year legal battle at the NICN, the court in a judgment delivered by Justice O.O. Oyewumi on July 3, 2018, held that Olaiya was not given a fair hearing and his sack did not follow due process.
The Fayose administration did not obey the court order despite being served with the copies of the judgment until the expiration of its tenure on October 15, 2018.
But the current administration in the state through the State Civil Service Commission in a letter signed on behalf of the Permanent Secretary by one Mr. Salami A. Olusola, formally reinstated Olaiya into the civil service on Wednesday.
The letter reads: “Consequent upon the judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Akure Judicial Division and recommendation of the State Committee on the Review of Irregular Appointments made into Ekiti State Public Service from 2014 to 2018 with the approval of the State Executive Council, I am directed to inform you that the Civil Service Commission has approved your reinstatement into the Civil Service of Ekiti State as a Principal Legal Officer, GL.12 with effect from 25th June, 2019.
“You are to report to the Solicitor General/Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice for further instructions.”