REGISTRAR, National Examination Council (NECO), Minna, Niger State, Professor Promise Okpala has refuted claims that he would be proceeding on a terminal leave soon, insisting that his tenure as registrar and chief executive of NECO ends in April this year, and that all the instruments that brought him to office were still intact.

 But briefing newsmen in Minna at NECO Headquarters Tuesday, Okpalla who said he has not handed over to anybody‎ to function in acting capacity, added that the impression being created that he has been directed to proceed on terminal leave even when his appointment is tenure-based was unnecessary and uncalled for.   He claimed that a group of people that are not staff members of NECO decided to embark on a demonstration out of ignorance asking him to proceed on terminal leave.

 “I got a letter from the Federal Ministry of Education asking me to proceed on terminal leave. I replied the letter drawing the attention of the ministry that I am not supposed to go on any terminal leave until my tenure is up. Then a second letter came and directed me to continue with what I am doing. 

  “I am a political appointee and not a civil servant. I am on tenured appointment and I have been told to stay until my tenure elapses. I am at work because all the instruments that keep me here are still intact. If the instruments were not intact, I would have proceeded on terminal leave.”

  Okpalla who wondered why people were clamoring for his removal from office with less than two months to the expiration of his tenure, expressed shock why some elements would allow their personal feelings override official decision.

  He therefore affirmed his commitment towards ensuring that the services of the council to the public were not tampered with.

  “I will work till my last day here, then I will hand over the baton to the next person. I have less than two months from now. I don’t know where all these clamor for my removal are coming from.”

 It would be could be recalled that two weeks ago, the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), NECO branch called on the registrar to follow the instruction of the Education Minister and proceed on terminal leave prior to the end of his tenure.