There was disquiet on Monday at the headquarters of the Securities and Exchange Commission in Abuja over the new promotion and internal posting policy introduced by the management headed by the Director-General, Ms Arunma Oteh.
The workers’ union in SEC had vowed to oppose the management decision to subject those who were due for promotion to fresh evaluation.
Findings revealed that Oteh, in a bid to ensure prompt oversight and regulatory functions of the commission as the apex regulator of the capital market, had last week given approval for an internal reshuffle of members of staff.
The exercise, which affected mostly employees who had spent about five years in a department, was carried out by the management in order to broaden the workers’ knowledge in the capital market.
While a few of the workers supported the move, others who had earlier protested the return of the DG to the commission, argued that the development was meant to victimise them.
It was also learnt that Oteh’s stance on staff promotion had angered the workers.
Sources said a list of all outstanding promotions had been approved by the immediate past SEC board chaired by Senator Udo Udoma.
However, instead of endorsing the promotion of the workers as already approved by the former board, the DG was said to have insisted that the promotion must be earned through an examination exercise.
In an attempt to forestall the breakdown of law and order, armed policemen were deployed in the SEC headquarters.
The detachment of police officers from the Federal Territory Command took over the SEC premises as early as 7am.
When contacted, the Special Assistant (Media) to the SEC DG, Mr. Obi Adindu, said the police officers were on routine patrol.
He, however, said internal postings and transfer to units was statutory mandate conferred on the DG.
This, he noted, was being implemented by Oteh for efficient and effective regulation of the capital market.
Adindu added that the conduct of promotion examinations was a norm in the public service and that SEC could not be an exception.
Source: Punch/Ifeanyi Onuba
