HOS Office Sets Record Straight on TESCOM Leadership Structure

The attention of the Office of the Head of Service has been drawn to a social media post by one Comrade Olabode Akinwale, titled “Quagmire in TESCOM.”

Ordinarily, it is not the practice of the Public Service to respond to unverified social media reports. However, it has become necessary to set the record straight to prevent the public from being misled.

First, contrary to the author’s claims, the TESCOM Law provides for the position of Secretary as the Accounting Officer of the Commission—not expressly a Permanent Secretary. Where a Permanent Secretary is posted to TESCOM for administrative convenience, he or she functions in the capacity of Secretary.

Second, the duties of the Tutors-General, who supervise secondary school personnel at the senatorial district level, are distinct from those of the Secretary at TESCOM headquarters. Tutors-General report to the Chairman/Board, not to the Secretary. Even under the writer’s flawed logic, it would be impractical for a Tutor-General to report to a Permanent Secretary of equivalent rank.

The insinuations in the said post are therefore nothing but mischief. Mrs. Bayo Philip, the current Administrative Secretary, has served in similar capacities in other agencies before her posting to TESCOM. The Ministry of Education, which supervises TESCOM, is also currently headed by an Administrative Secretary.

For the record, several senior Directors have served as TESCOM Secretaries in the past, including Mr. Adelae, Rev. J. A. Ogunsusi, Elder Abiodun Alabi, Mrs. A. M. Akinsete, and Pastor (Mrs.) T. R. Adediran.

Under Mrs. Philip’s leadership, TESCOM has conducted the recent teachers’ recruitment exercise, as approved by Mr. Governor, without any scandal. Appointments of Principals are now based on seniority and competence—ending the era of “cash-and-carry” postings.

It would have been more constructive if the writer had raised any verifiable cases of inefficiency rather than engaging in a baseless social media outburst. Their motive is understood, but the facts speak for themselves—TESCOM is running smoothly.

E-Signed
Sina Adeyeye
Director of Information
Office of the Head of Service