It was a day of jubilation as staffs of the university of portharcourth teaching hospital received promotion news and letters from the hospital management. No sooner had they opened up their letters that wailing and tears rented the air. In an exclusive interview with our correspondent, we gathered that the results of the 2014/2015 senior staff promotion interview which was released by the institution over the weekend was rather a demotion instead of promotion. Successful officers who took part in the interview received a letter suggesting they had been demoted instead of promoted.

 

According to the civil service rule on appointment and promotion, an officer who after participating in a promotional exercise and having met all the requirements for promotions should be placed on a higher cadre. This means moving the officer from a grade level where he was prior to the exercise to a higher grade level in order to maintain statutory seniority; In UPTH, the reverse seems to be the case as officers are rather stagnated. 

 

Reports showed that some of the affected officers have spent well over 12yrs on the same rank, and even after the promotion exercise, were placed on the same grade level in the name of promotion, in what could be termed a re-designation. 

 

A staff of the institution who spoke under anonymity said the action of the management was totally "unfair and should be condemned", staff should be encouraged. This is a grossly against every government gazetted public service rule and schemes of service in Nigeria. Moreso it has not favoured any circular from the office of Head of civil service of the federation.

 

The unions however are poised and have vowed to fight this to a logical conclusion