Concerns have emerged within the Plateau State Ministry of Lands, Survey and Town Planning over allegations of unfair treatment, irregular postings, career stagnation, and perceived bias in the administration of the ministry.
Independent investigations indicate that despite a recent press conference in which the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Town Planning, Barrister Peter Nyam Gai, stated that the ministry was facing staff shortages, the ministry has recently redeployed nine of its senior personnel. The affected officers have reportedly been posted to other ministries and agencies where their specialized skills may not be effectively utilized.
The Ministry of Lands, Survey and Town Planning plays a critical role in land administration and physical development across Plateau State, including land title management, surveying, valuation, mapping, and development control functions.
Seniority Concerns and Leadership Appointments
One of the major issues uncovered in the ministry relates to alleged departures from established civil service hierarchy and career progression practices.
Findings suggest that some junior officers have allegedly been appointed to head departments ahead of more senior personnel. In one instance, officers on Grade Level 14 were reportedly assigned acting director positions while officers on higher Grade Levels 15 and 16 remained subordinate to them. Questions regarding qualifications may ordinarily arise in such circumstances; however, sources familiar with the situation contend that qualifications were not the determining factor in these appointments, as some who where chatted estate survivors and valuers were ignored for persons with lesser qualifications.
Such decisions can be said to inconsistent with long-standing civil service rules/traditions, where leadership responsibilities are generally expected to reflect seniority, experience, and career progression.
Controversial Redeployment of Technical Personnel
Furt issue of concern is the recent redeployment of selected technical staff from the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Town Planning to the Office of the Head of Civil Service and their subsequent posting to other ministries and agencies.
Many of the affected officers possess specialized expertise in land administration, surveying, valuation, and physical planning. Concerns have been raised that their new assignments may not fully utilize their professional training and years of experience.
Observers have questioned the rationale behind the redeployments, particularly given the ministry’s public acknowledgment of staffing shortages. Several of the affected personnel have served in the ministry for more than 20 years and have attained senior ranks, including Grade Levels 14, 15, and 16.
At such levels one will expect that ordinarily they will be accorded the required respect given that the civil service rule 020506 clearly states that No Ministry shall transfer/second any senior Officer to any Parastatal under its supervision either as a take-off or at the request of the Agency without approval of the Federal Civil Service Commission/Board;
(ii) No Ministry shall accept any staff seconded to it without the endorsement of the Federal Civil Service Commission/Board ; and Officer on secondment shall be appraised by the MDA he is seconded to and 18(i) which states that; Posting of Officers to posts outside their Professional Cadres is prohibited;
Among the most sensitive cases is the redeployment of a labour union executive. Civil service regulations under Rule 020610 provide that labour union executives should not be posted out of their ministries, departments, or agencies until the expiration of their tenure in office. This has raised questions about whether due process was followed in the exercise.
Concerns Over Human Resource Management
The Ministry of Lands, Survey and Town Planning remains a highly technical institution that depends heavily on experienced professionals to manage critical functions such as land administration, surveying, planning, mapping, and valuation.
The redeployment of experienced officers has therefore generated concerns about workforce utilization and institutional capacity. Critics argue that removing senior technical personnel from an already understaffed ministry could affect service delivery and operational efficiency in key departments.
Giving the circumstances concerns become eminent that responsibilities traditionally handled by technical directors and departmental heads could increasingly be determined by outside or contracted established professional structures. Another fear is that highly specialized assignments may be transferred to committees or bodies lacking the requisite technical expertise.
The Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Town Planning, Barrister Peter Nyam Gai, has previously highlighted efforts aimed at boosting staff morale, including improvements in office infrastructure, staff welfare initiatives, and reforms designed to enhance service delivery and revenue generation. However, the recent redeployments have prompted questions about the consistency of those efforts, particularly if the affected officers have no records of disciplinary issues or misconduct.
Call for Transparency and Review
The developments have prompted calls for greater transparency and a review of the circumstances surrounding the appointments and redeployments. Stakeholders argue that the Plateau State Civil Service Commission should ascertain whether existing civil service rules and procedures have been adhered to.
The situation has also drawn attention to broader issues of personnel management, accountability, professional advancement, and institutional governance within the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Town Planning.
The state government must ensure that civil servants are treated with fairness, transparency, and strict adherence to established civil service regulations, particularly in matters relating to appointments, postings, promotions, and staff development.