The leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to initiate full investigation into the circumstances that led to Abdulrasheed Maina’s flight and reinstatement; and prosecution on allegations of corruption.
Ayuba Wabba, NLC President in a statement obtained by BusinessDay, showered encomium on President Muhammadu Buhari over the immediate sack of embattled Abdulrasheed Maina, who was reinstated under controversial circumstances into the Federal Civil Service, despite N195 billion fraud charges leveled against him.
According to a statement issued by Abdulrahman Dambazau, Minister of Interior, through his Press Secretary, Ehisienmen Osaigbovo, the former chairman of the Presidential Task Force Team on Pension Reforms, “was posted by the Office of the Head of Service, few days ago on an ‘Acting’ capacity to fill a vacancy created following the retirement of the Director heading the Human Resources Department in the Ministry.”
In a swift reaction to media report on Maina’s reinstatement, Buhari who directed immediate dismissal of Maina from the federal civil service, also demanded for submission of a full report on the circumstances that led to Maina’s recall and posting to Federal Ministry of Interior, before the close of work on Monday to the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.
Ayuba Wabba, NLC President who applauded the President’s strong will towards nipping the crisis in the bud, argued that Maina’s re-engagement was “an affront to law and procedure; insult to Nigerians; and a mockery of Mr. President’s fight against corruption.”
“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; 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 not 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,” the NLC President urged.
