Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, has said the reinstatement and posting of Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina, to the Ministry of Interior never emanated from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
In a statement by the Assistant Director (Press), Office of Head of Service of the Federation, Mohammed Manga, she said the purported reinstatement and posting by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation is totally erroneous and misleading.
However, reports show that Manga had previously stated that nobody will dismiss a Director from service just by recommendations, adding that a Civil Service Director is not a political appointment.
“Every one of them wrote exams and got promoted to that position, and so sacking a Director even an Assistant is not easy. The Civil Service Commission is the one constitutionally backed to engage, discipline and promote a Civil Servant”.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, earlier said the Former Chairman of Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, was posted a few days ago to the Ministry of Interior, by the Office of the Head of Service, in acting capacity to fill a vacancy, following the retirement of the Director heading the Human Resources Department in the Ministry.
In a statement by his Press Secretary, Ehisienmen Osaigbovo, Dambazau said:
“For the avoidance of doubt, issues relating to discipline, employment, re-engagement, posting, promotion and retirement of Federal Civil Servants are the responsibility of the Federal Civil Service Commission and the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, of which no Minister exercises such powers as erroneously expressed”.
Spokesman for the Attorney General of the Federation, Salihu Othman, denied being aware of Abubakar Malami’s involvement in the reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina.
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday ordered Maina’s disengagement from the civil service.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the immediate disengagement from service of Mr. Abdullahi Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms.
“In a memo to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the President equally demanded a full report of the circumstances of Maina’s recall and posting to the Ministry of Interior.
“The report is to be submitted to the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, before the end of work today, Monday, October 23, 2017”.
Senate has set up an ad-hoc Committee, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina. The lawmakers at the plenary on Tuesday took turns to condemn the actions, of those involved in the reinstatement of the former Chairman of Pension Reform Task Team, who they said were rubbishing the anti-corruption campaign of the Government.
Senator representing Bauchi Senatorial District, Isah Misau said:
“It is only Mr. President that is talking about corruption and the people around him are giving cover to corrupt people”.
Olusola Adeyeye representing Osun Central Constituency said a warrant of arrest was issued against Maina, adding that if he will return to Nigeria, he will have to answer the charges against him.
“Tragically, not only did he return, he returned to an elevated position. This is an insult to all civil servants who are doing their work diligently. For me it’s a sad moment. We cannot be saying we are fighting corruption and continue to allow this”.
Senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District, Aidoko Ali, and Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye, questioned the AGF’s involvement in the reinstatement of Maina.
“Maina is not the issue but the person who returned him. The AGF must be held responsible for this. This is not the first time he is doing it. He keeps writing letters as if there is no rule of law. He has a history of writing letters all over the place. Mr. President must tell us what he’ll do to the Attorney General
“Mr. President, Time after time, the Attorney General has abused his office
“We shouldn’t be talking about Maina, he didn’t get himself back. We should be talking about the AGF. If the law officer has his hands stained, then all of us in this nation are in a state of higgledy-piggledy”.
National President, Nigerian Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, commended the President for relieving Maina of his duty immediately, stating that there should be a thorough investigation into the issue.
“The manner of Mr. Maina’s re-engagement and posting as Director to the Ministry of Interior is an affront to law and procedure, insult to Nigerians and a mockery of Mr. President’s fight against corruption; indeed, it is the height of arrogance and impunity”.
In a statement jointly signed by ‘OurMumuDonDo’ Executives, the Group noted that the only way President Buhari can redeem his image is to order an investigation into the issue and sack all officials involved in Maina’s reinstatement, including the Attorney General of the Federation on whose legal advice the reinstatement was carried out.
“Anything less will reveal the Buhari administration for what it truly is – a hypocritical administration that is prepared to look away when corruption is perpetrated by cronies and close family members but will only act when public outcry is intense
“Assuming, but not conceding, that President Buhari was indeed unaware of Alhaji Maina’s reinstatement as claimed by his spokespeople, it is clear that he is not in charge of his government and as such is unaware of the level of illegality and corruption being perpetrated by officials of his administration
“Either way, the inescapable conclusion is that President Buhari is unable, or unwilling, to fight corruption in his administration”.
The Peoples’ Democratic Party through its spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye has also reacted to Maina’s disengagement from service, saying the ex-Chairman was given an assignment of fighting corruption in the Jonathan-led administration but failed.
“It is reported that the fugitive has been rewarded with payment of bogus salary arrears amounting to N22m, which he has reportedly collected upon approval and released by the Accountant General of the Federation. We dare the Government of the day to deny this with verifiable evidence”.
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, noted that if Maina could be reinstated secretly, and even promoted without writing the required civil service promotion examination, no one should be in doubt any longer that Buhari is not fighting corruption.
He gave other instances where corruption cases were swept under the carpet in the Buhari-led administration.
“Even the former Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, who was accused of corruption by the Senate, removed from office unceremoniously and declared wanted, is now the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, Lagos.
“Even the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu was indicted of corruption by the Department of State Service and all that was done by President Buhari was to ask the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to investigate the DSS report. Up till today, nothinghas been heard about it and Magu, despite his rejection by the Senate, is still acting as the EFCC chairman.
Meanwhile, a picture of President Buhari and Alhassan Ado Doguwa has appeared on the internet and many are saying Mr. Dogowa is Abdulrasheed Maina as a way of showing the President was fully aware of his presence.
Here is the picture being peddled:
And here is Alhassan Ado Doguwa:
