• HOS denies reinstating him in civil service
• President’s action an afterthought, says Fayose.
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the immediate disengagement from service of a former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdullahi Abdulrasheed Maina.
In a memo to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, President Buhari also demanded a full report of the circumstances of Maina’s recall and posting to the Ministry of Interior.
A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, yesterday said the report must be submitted to the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, before the close of work yesterday (Monday).
The Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) had confirmed the resumption of duty by Maina, as an acting director in his ministry.
The confirmation came in a statement issued by the Press Secretary to the minister, Mr. Ehisienmen Osaigbovo, on Sunday.
Osaigbovo, however, debunked media reports that his principal was one of those responsible for Maina’s “re-instatement”.
Osaigbovo, however, debunked media reports that his principal was one of those responsible for Maina’s “re-instatement”.
“Maina was posted a few days ago to the Ministry of Interior by the Office of the Head of Service in an acting capacity to fill a vacancy created following the retirement of the director heading the Human Resources Department in the ministry.
“For the avoidance of doubt, issues relating to discipline, employment, re-engagement, posting, promotion and retirements of federal civil servants are the responsibility of the Federal Civil Service Commission and Office of the Head of Service of the Federation.
“No minister exercises such powers as erroneously expressed in this publication. It is understood that Maina’s last posting was with the Ministry of Interior, and that is probably why he was re-posted back to the ministry,” he said.
Maina was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan as chairman of the task force in 2010 to check corruption in the country’s pension system.
In 2012, the Nigeria Police accused him of misappropriating N100 billion pension funds in connivance with others. The Civil Service Commission reportedly dismissed him for “absconding from duty.”Maina was arraigned in absentia by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which declared him wanted in 2015.
The anti-graft agency, through its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, says the former pension task force chairman remains on the commission’s wanted list.
The Sunday’s confirmation by the minister followed reports in the online media that Maina had been secretly re-instated and promoted to the rank of director in the ministry.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has lauded President Buhari’s action on Maina.
In Abuja yesterday, President of Congress, Aruba Wabba faulted the manner of Maina’s re-entry into the civil service with alleged corruption cases that are yet to be resolved.
“The manner of 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.”Except those involved in the ‘Mainagate’, every other person in Nigeria was aware of the report of the Senate after a painstaking investigation; the refusal of Maina to avail himself to the Senate or the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); his being declared wanted by the EFCC; and his taking refuge in the corridors of power then (complete with a retinue of armed personnel) before his subsequent absconding to a foreign country when power changed hands,” Wabba said.
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