SAN FRANCISCO, october 13, (THEWILL) – The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, has confirmed the reinstatement into the civil service of embattled former chairman of Presidential Task Team on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, who was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over corruption allegation.
THEWILL recalls that a notice on the EFCC website said Maina is wanted “for offences bordering on Procurement Fraud and Obtaining by False Pretence,” adding that he is allegedly complicit in the “over N 2 billion Pensions Biometric Scam in the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation. He remains at large, after charges were filed against his accomplices.”
But exonerating himself from the processes that led to Maina’s recall, Dambazau clarified that it was the duty of the Civil Service Commission and Office of the Head of Service of the Federation to recall a suspended staff.
The embattled man, who is now in charge of the Human Resources Department of the Interior ministry, was in 2013 dismissed by the Federal Civil Service Commission following a recommendation by the Office of the Head of Service.
Maina’s reinstatement and promotion were shrouded in secrecy until the news was reported by the Premium Times. Based on the allegation of corruption, Maina was before now invited by the Senate Joint Committee on Public Service and Establishment and State and Local Government Administration.
The Senate after completion of its investigation issued a Warrant of Arrest against Maina. But ignoring the panel, he went ahead to sue the Senate and the then Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, and thereafter went into hiding after being declared wanted by the police.
The statement issued on Sunday by the Dambazau Press Secretary, Ehisienmen Osaigbovo said, “the publication, which queries the reinstatement of former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, reportedly claimed that the Interior Minister was one of those behind the said reinstatement.
“It is observed that some insinuations as it concerns the Interior Minister were presented as facts, hence the compelling need to proffer some clarifications for reference purposes.
“The ex- Chairman of the Presidential Task Force Team on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed 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.
“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, of which 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.
“It is, therefore, improper for anybody to think that a Minister could exercise such powers or influence the process of Discipline, Re-engagement, and Deployment of any civil servant to his Ministry or any other Ministry for that matter.
“Again Such responsibility is that of the Federal Civil Service Commission and/or the Head of Civil Service.
“We, therefore, admonished journalists to cross check their facts before going to the press, as we see Nigerian media as dependable allies in our onerous task of nation building.
“In any case, the relevant institutions of government are alive to their responsibilities regarding the allegations confronting Mr Maina.”
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