I will not go on terminal break – Jega

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof.
Attahiru Jega, has said he does not have any plan to embark on
terminal leave.
This was contrary to unsubstantiated report that Jega would proceed on
a forced terminal leave on March 1.
But Jega's Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kayode Idowu, denied this saying
his boss was busy preparing for the conduct of the elections.
He said, "Jega is busy preparing for the elections and you are asking
about terminal leave. Does anyone planning to conduct elections go on
terminal leave? There is nothing like that."
Firstclassnewsline.net
Idowu had in an interview on a TV programme monitored in Lagos, on
Tuesday, said Jega's appointment was not guided by civil service rules
and would serve until the end of his tenure on June 30.
He said the postponement of the elections would make INEC better
prepared for the elections scheduled for March 28 and April 11.
Idowu also denied the report that Jega had resigned his appointment
due to pressure from the Presidency.
Idowu said, "No, that's (resignation) is not true, he has not
resigned. He didn't resign. It is a mere rumour."
Similarly, the minority leader of the House of Representatives, Mr.
Femi Gbajabiamila, said Jega could not be asked to go on a terminal
leave because he was not a civil servant.
He said, "I do not consider the Chairman of INEC as a civil servant
subject to civil service rules the same way I, as a member of the
House of Representatives, is not a civil servant. There is a
difference between a civil servant and a public servant or officer.
Jega falls under the latter."
However, it was learnt that by norm, political appointees had at
several times in the past been ordered to go on terminal leave even
though they were not civil servants.
The provisions of Public Service Rules 100238 states that officers are
required to give three months notice of their retirement from service
terminating on the effective date of their retirement. This means Jega
might be forced to proceed on terminal leave before the elections.
For instance, the tenure of Jega's predecessor, Prof Maurice Iwu, was
due to expire on June 13, 2010 but on April 28, 2010, President
Goodluck Jonathan, ordered Iwu to proceed on terminal leave.
Firstclassnewsline.net