There are people whose lives are guided by clear principles. It shows in how they speak, how they act, and more importantly, how they lead. When such individuals find themselves in positions of authority, they become even more distinct. You may be close to them, you may laugh, relax, and enjoy their company in private, but once it comes to their official duty, the story changes. At work, there are no friends. There are no family members. There are only rules. And anyone who crosses the line must face the consequences, no matter how close they are.
Habiba Tijjani Onumoko, FCNA, is one of such individuals.
You may love her for it, you may dislike her for it, but it is clear that her commitment to discipline has helped restore sanity within the system. Over time, the Kogi State civil service has benefitted from that firmness.
It is also important to place today’s reality in the proper context. The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has increased the financial capacity of state governments. This has created room for improvement across many states, including Kogi. But we must not forget where the state is coming from. Before now, salary structures in Kogi State were not designed out of comfort. They were survival measures, and the “New Direction” told a story with it.
Under the administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, CON, the government inherited a civil service with over 60,000 workers; many of whom were non-existent ghost workers. The wage bill was simply unsustainable, and the government had to act, so a verification and cleansing process was introduced. It was unpopular, it attracted criticism, it even turned the government into a public enemy in the eyes of many, but it was necessary.
Even after that exercise, the state still struggled to meet salary obligations. At a point, retrenchment was considered, but labour unions such as the NLC, TUC, NULGE, NUT, NUJ resisted it. Instead, a compromise was reached that workers received between 50% and 75% of their salaries, depending on what the state could afford at the time. It was not ideal, but it kept the system alive.
Today, under His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, there is visible progress. Increased allocation has improved the state’s financial position. Salary payments have stabilised. Debts are gradually being cleared. Pension funding has improved, and pensioners now have reasons to smile.
It is against this background that recent events within the civil service should be understood.
A case involving alleged misconduct by a senior civil servant has sparked reactions across different quarters. As expected, emotions have taken over but the truth is simple. But it must be established that the civil service is not a social space, it is a structured system governed by rules. Every worker, regardless of rank, is expected to operate within those rules, and they cannot clame ignorance to that.
There is nothing wrong with raising concerns. There is nothing wrong with advocating for employment or fairness. But such actions must follow due process, especially when they come from someone at the director level who understands the system better than most.
A lot is happening, and like it has always been rumoured, the incumbent government may embark on a statewide recruitment exercise when it deems it fit and when conditions allow. This is something many people are waiting for, and it is right to continue to ask for it. However, we must also be patient.
Such expectations should not be turned into tools for incitement. They should not be used to stir ethnic sentiments, and certainly not to pitch Ebira youths against a government led by an Ebira governor. When information is shared by someone perceived to be a part of a system without full context, or when actions risk inflaming ethnic or political tensions, it becomes a problem. In such situations, investigation and discipline are not acts of oppression. They are acts of responsibility.
Interestingly, whenever issues arise that involve Habiba Tijjani Onumoko, FCNA, especially when they intersect with regional sentiments, the reactions often become more intense. But this is not new. Her role in blocking financial leakages within the system naturally created discomfort for those who once benefitted from those loopholes. And over time, some of that resentment has formed the narratives around her.
But, one thing that stands out is that he has remained consistent. No pressure, no noise, no misunderstanding, and nothing has stopped her from doing what she believes is right for the system. And nothing is likely to stop her anytime soon.
Leadership is not always about being liked. Sometimes, it is about standing firm when it is uncomfortable. Sometimes, it is about choosing order over approval. And in systems that have suffered years of disorder, those who choose principle over popularity will always appear controversial.
But in the end, they are often the ones who make a lasting impact.
Thank you, Hajiya Habiba Tijjani Onumoko, FCNA.
– Abdul Mohammed Lawal writes from Lokoja.
