The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) wants President Muhammadu Buhari to be more decisive in the ongoing fight against corruption, while asking for full investigations into the controversial reinstatement and posting of Abdullahi Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms.
Maina was accused of diverting several billions of pension funds after being investigated by a senate committee and declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after absconding from duty and was dismissed in accordance with civil service rules.
But an online newspaper recently reported his recall and appointment as a Director in the Ministry of Interior, while alleging that the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahaman Danbazzau and his Justice counterpart, Ibrahim Malamud were behind the recall.
However, while denying complicity in the recall and promotion of Maina, Danbazzau confirmed that the wanted civil servant who is believed to have been taking refuse in a foreign country has been posted to the Ministry as Acting Director in charge of Human Resources and has since reported for duty.
Following public outcry however, the President, according to his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina has ordered his immediate disengagement from service and a full report on the circumstances surrounding his recall.
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that the recall of Maina was an insult on Nigerians and the height of arrogance and impunity.
While commending the President for the directive, Wabba said Maina had the opportunity to defend himself and clear his name either before the Senate committee that investigated him of before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, but choose to run away and take refuge in a foreign land.
The statement reads: “We at the Nigeria Labour Congress commend the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari ordering the immediate disengagement from service of Mr Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina, former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Force.
“The manner of Mr Maina’s re-engagement and posting as Director to the Ministry of Interior is an affront to law and procedure; an 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 Maina Gate, 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 EFCC; his being declared wanted by the EFCC; his taking refuge in the corridors of power then (complete with a retinue of armed personnel) before his subsequent abscondment to a foreign country when power changed hands.
“Maina had all the opportunity to clear his name in court if he felt the Senate and EFCC were biased against him. But he did none of this. Instead, he and his co-conspirators in the new corridors of power elected to do the unthinkable, promote and post him because they think we Nigerians have forgotten. It is sickening. It stinks to high heavens.
“As a follow-up action to Mr President’s directive, we at the Nigeria Labour Congress demand a full investigation of the circumstances that led to Maina’s flight and reinstatement; and prosecution on allegations of corruption.
“Mr President must firmly put his foot down; else some people will rubbish all that he has ever been known for”.
Source:The Nation
