Maina’s saga gets messier as Head of Service denies Minister of Interior, Dambazau

The saga involving the reinstatement and sack of the former chairman of the defunct Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, who has been on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s wanted list, has taken yet another twist as the Head of Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, has come out to deny claims by the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, laying the responsibility of Maina’s reinstatement squarely at her feet.

Recall that following reports of Maina’s reinstatement and the massive backlash, Dambazau had Sunday stated that Oyo-Ita and the Federal Civil Service Commission bore the sole responsibility for the development.
Mr. Dambazau had in a statement by his Press Secretary, Ehisienmen Osaigbovo, denied responsibility for Maina’s return to active service.

The statement had asserted that Maina “was posted few days ago to the Ministry of Interior by the Office of the Head of Service on an Acting capacity to fill a vacancy created following the retirement of the Director heading the Human Resources Department in the Ministry”.

The minister had added that the responsibility was solely that of the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation and the Federal Civil Service Commission, stating that both bodies were in charge of “issues relating to Discipline, Employment, Re-engagement, Posting, Promotion and Retirements of Federal Civil Servants”.

Feigning a total lack of clue as to the development, and appearing to hazard a guess, the minister had said, “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”.

But Oyo-Ita speaking through a statement by her Assistant Director, Media Relations, Mohammed Manga, flatly denied any involvement.

Read also: Buhari sacks wanted Maina, who was smuggled back to office

She said, “The attention of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has been drawn to several media reports that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has approved the reinstatement into the Federal Civil Service of Alhaji Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina and his subsequent posting to the Ministry of Interior.

“The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation wishes to inform the public that the reinstatement and posting of Alhaji Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina never emanated from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

“Consequently, the purported reinstatement and posting by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation is totally erroneous and misleading”.

President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier on Monday ordered the immediate sack of Maina and directed Oyo-Ita to provide a detailed report on the matter to his office by close of work Monday.

This press statement by Oyo-Ita would be read as a direct response to the president’s directive, in addition to the expected report.

It is safe to conclude that the last has not been heard of this development, as it has thrown up lots of pertinent questions begging for answers.

Considering the nature of placement of individuals on the wanted list, especially notable personalities, which involves wide circulation across public platforms, internal information distribution, as well as inter-agency cooperation for tracking and intelligence sharing, many will wonder how the minister of interior under whose supervision the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) are, would not only have been unaware of Maina’s return into the country, but would even shockingly allow his re-absorption into service.

They would wonder how it was possible that the ministry did not admit its embarrassing dereliction of duty at the very least, before going ahead to raise alarm over the likely massive security breach that would have allowed such an incident to incur, except of course there was collusion on its part as alleged.

These questions should prompt an immediate extensive enquiry as they border on national security and the integrity of the nation.

Many analysts will also add this development to the long list of similar incidents that reflect unfortunate internal lack of coordination and cooperation within Buhari’s team. They will consider it further evidence of the president’s lack of commanding control over his team and the internal system of the complex executive structure.

The consolation for some would be that at least this time, the president was quick to take decisive action by sacking Maina. But then again, such should never, in the first place, happen in a country serious about its image in the comity of nations.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now