Oyegun: How military actions forced me to retire as Perm Sec at 48

Former Edo State Governor, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, says his refusal to compromise as Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service during the military regime led to his early retirement at the age of 48.

Oyegun made this revelation over the weekend while speaking at the commissioning of the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA), an institution named after him by the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, to celebrate his 84th birthday and 19 years service as a civil servant at the federal level.

The former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said he didn’t serve for long in the Federal Civil Service, but served for just 19 years not 35 years, noting that he was able to leave his imprint in the sand of time.

He stated that he had the unique opportunity of serving with the best minds in the civil service and contributed his quota to the development of the service, Edo State, and Nigeria at large.

Oyegun said: “I was called to manage Nigeria Airways as Managing Director but refused because the Minister of Aviation was then a military man. I refused the offer because he will not allow me to do my job. I was that fearless to tell him to his face politely that he will not let me function effectively and will lose credibility with passengers.”

Giving instances of some of the things that transpired during his time as Permanent Secretary, he said: “I was bold to tell the military what I want as a permanent secretary to ensure I don’t get into troubles. The IBB administration then posted me to various Ministries including that of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

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“The first thing the military did was to send me a list of people to be retired but I am not the one to retire them but write to the Public Service Commission with reasons. I sat with my Commissioner, an Armond Commander in the Military, who could not tell me what these people did but said the instructions are from the Supreme Headquarters.

“Three military officers were appointed by the IBB regime to supervise the different import licenses and I was told that I will be the one to sign all the import licenses but I politely refused. I told them I can’t do that because I was not responsible for it and where I come from we don’t behave this way. Immediately after that conversation, I knew I would be sacked and I went to report myself to the Head of Service of the Federation at that time.

“I went to my office, instructed my secretary to prepare a resignation letter, so I can retire before the military could sack me. We all have a decision to make, it requires courage to take major steps to maintain integrity, defend what you stand for.

“When there was a crisis at the Ministry of Internal Affairs I was the only signatory of the Nigerian Passport at that time, I did all my duties and responsibilities, maintaining my integrity. I retired at 48 years after 19 years of service.”

The Star