Unease in Plateau Lands Ministry Over Alleged Irregular Postings, Career Stagnation

    Fresh concerns have surfaced at the Plateau State Ministry of Lands, Survey and Town Planning following allegations of irregular postings, bypass of seniority, and career stagnation and favouritism affecting technical personnel.

Investigations indicate that despite recent public acknowledgement of staff shortages by the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Town Planning, Barr. Peter Nyam Gai, nine senior officers were recently redeployed from the ministry while he has been calling for a waiver to allow him employ more staff due to shortage of staff at the ministry. The affected personnel have reportedly been posted to other ministries and agencies where their specialized expertise in land administration, surveying, valuation, and physical planning may not be fully utilized.

The Ministry of Lands, Survey and Town Planning is central to Plateau State’s physical development, handling land title management, surveying, valuation, mapping, and development control.

Stakeholders have raised questions over alleged departures from established civil service hierarchy in departmental appointments. Sources claim that officers on Grade Level 14 were assigned acting director roles while officers on Grade Levels 15 and 16 were placed under them. While qualifications are a standard consideration in such appointments, insiders allege that qualifications were not the determining factor in these cases.

The development is viewed by some as inconsistent with civil service tradition, which typically ties leadership responsibilities to seniority, experience, and career progression.

Further unease surrounds the redeployment of selected technical staff from the ministry to the Office of the Head of Civil Service, and their subsequent posting to other MDAs. Critics argue the move is at odds with the ministry’s stated manpower deficit.

Several affected officers have over 20 years of service and hold senior ranks between Grade Levels 14, 15 and 16, and before their redeployment a level 14 was appointed to head level 15 and 16  which is total abuse of the civil service rules. One particularly sensitive case involves the redeployment of a serving labour union executive. Civil Service Rule 020610 stipulates that union executives should not be posted out of their ministries, departments, or agencies until the expiration of their tenure, raising due-process concerns.

As a highly technical institution, the ministry relies on experienced professionals for core functions. Observers warn that moving senior technical officers out of an already understaffed ministry could affect operational efficiency and service delivery.

There are also fears that responsibilities traditionally handled by technical directors may increasingly be shifted outside established professional structures to committees or bodies lacking requisite expertise.

Barr. Nyam Gai has previously cited reforms to boost staff morale, including infrastructure upgrades, welfare initiatives, and measures to improve service delivery and revenue. However, the recent redeployments have prompted questions about consistency, especially as the affected officers reportedly have no disciplinary records.

Stakeholders are calling for transparency and a review by the Plateau State Civil Service Commission to ascertain whether civil service rules and procedures were followed. The situation has renewed focus on personnel management, accountability, and adherence to regulations governing appointments, postings, promotions, and staff development within the ministry.

Observers insist that fairness, transparency, and strict compliance with civil service regulations remain essential to maintaining institutional capacity and professional morale.