The Head of
Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, has said
President Muhammadu Buhari is aware of the reinstatement of a former
Chairman of the
Pension Reforms
Commission, Mallam Abdulrasheed Maina, into the civil service.
She however
said she warned the President against it.
Oyo-Ita said
that her warning was based on the implications such reinstatement would have on
the anti-corruption war of the Federal Government.
The HoS
stated this in her memo to the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari.
The memo,
with reference number HSCSF/HCSF/LU/COR/FCSC/750/T, was dated October 23, 2017.
The memo,
titled, “Re: Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina,” was received in the office of the
Chief of Staff to the President on October 23.
A copy of
the memo was sighted by our correspondent in Abuja on Monday.
The
President had directed the HoS to investigate the circumstances that surrounded
the return of Maina to the civil service.
He gave the
directive following the public outcry that trailed Maina’s reinstatement.
Maina, whose
whereabouts is still unknown, has been
accused of embezzling pensioners’ funds running into billions of naira and is
currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Explaining
further, the HoS said she met the President after the Federal Executive Council
meeting of Wednesday, October 11, where
she verbally warned Buhari against bringing Maina back to the service.
She,
however, did not say what the response of the President was after briefing him.
Oyo-Ita
said, “Please, note that the OHCSF was never in agreement with the
reinstatement and consequently never conveyed the approval of the FCPC to Mr.
A. A. Maina, nor approved his posting to the Ministry of Interior or any other
MDA
“Rather, I
sought audience with His Excellency, Mr. President on Wednesday, 11th October,
2017 after the FEC meeting where I briefed His Excellency verbally on the
wide-ranging implications of the reinstatement of Mr. A. A. Maina, especially
the damaging impact on the anti-corruption stance of this administration.”
The letter
partly read, “Further to your letter Ref. SH/COS/100/A/1570 dated 23rd October,
2017 on the above subject matter, I write to inform you of the circumstances
leading to the irregular recall of Mr. Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina.
“I wrote to
place on record the following facts as it permits to Mr. A. A. Maina who was
dismissed from service on 21st February, 2013.
“The move to
recall Mr. A. A. Maina was at the instance of a series of letters from the
Attorney General of the Federation to the Federal Civil Service Commission
requesting the commission to give consequential effect to the judgement that
voided the warrant of arrest issued against Mr. A. A. Maina which formed the
basis for the query and his eventual dismissal.
“The letters
herewith attached as Annexes I-III are:
(a) Ref. HAGF/FFCSC/2017/VOL.1/1 dated 19th
January 2017,
(b) Ref.
HAGF/FFCSC/2017/VOL.1/ 2 dated 21st February 2017; and
(c)Ref.
HAGF/FFCSC/2017/VOL.1/1 dated 27th April 2017.
“The FCSC
thereafter requested that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation
should advise the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior to consider the
AGF’s letter and make appropriate recommendations to the commission and this
was so communicated to the Ministry of Interior.
“The
Ministry of Interior took the matter to the Senior Staff Committee of the
ministry and recommended the reinstatement of Mr. A. A. Maina into the service
as Deputy Director.
“The OHCSF
forwarded the recommendation to the FCSC which has the constitutional
responsibility for appointments, promotion and discipline for further action.
“The FCSC in
consideration of the letter from the AGF and the recommendations of the SSC of
the Ministry of Interior consequently approved and conveyed the reinstatement
of Mr. A. A. Maina with effect from 21st February, 2013 vide letter herewith
attached as Annex IV.
“(vi) The
letter of reinstatement, as communicated to HCSF Ref. FC. 4029.82/Vol. III/179
dated 18th September, 2017 attached
herewith as Annex IV, ostensibly also copied the Ministry of Interior which is
the one erroneously used to document Mr. A. A. Maina on a claim that he has
resumed work since 28th September, 2017. The Ministry of Interior informed the
OHCSF of this development vide letter Ref. MI/1436/II/24 dated 16th October,
2017 from Ministry of Interior stating that Mr. A. A. Maina has resumed with
effect from 28th September, 2017 is attached as Annex V.
“Please note
that the OHCSF was never in agreement with the reinstatement and consequently
never conveyed the approval of the FCSC to Mr. A. A. Maina nor approved his
posting to the Ministry of Interior or any other MDA. Rather, I sought audience
with His Excellency, Mr. President on Wednesday, 11th October, 2017 after the
FEC meeting where I briefed His Excellency verbally on the wide-ranging
implications of the reinstatement of Mr. A. A. Maina, especially the damaging
impact on the anti-corruption stance of this administration.
“However, I
have requested the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, to provide any
documentary evidence to support the claim of reinstatement and posting of Mr.
A. A. Maina by OHCSF, since after his dismissal.
“The letter
to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior is attached as Annex VI. The
foregoing is accordingly submitted for your information and further
consideration.
“Please
accept the assurances of my best regards.”
0 Comments