NLC seeks fresh probe into Maina’s recall

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to initiate a full investigation into the controversial reinstatement and posting of the former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdullahi Maina.
President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba who made this known in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja, said the recall of Maina was an insult on Nigerians and the height of arrogance and impunity.
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.
Recently, an online media had 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, Danbazzau who denied the recall and promotion of Maina, confirmed that the wanted civil servant who is believed to have been taking refuge in a foreign country has been posted to the Ministry as Acting Director in charge of Human Resources and has since reported for duty.
Reacting to the media report on Maina’s reinstatement, Buhari directed immediate dismissal of Maina from the federal civil service, and 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.
Commending President Buhari for his strong will towards nipping the crisis in the bud, the union maintained that Maina’s re-engagement was “an affront to law and procedure; an insult to Nigerians; and a mockery of Mr. President’s fight against corruption.”
According to him. Maina had the opportunity to defend himself and clear his name either before the Senate committee that investigated him before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission but chooses to run away and take refuge in a foreign land.
“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,” the statement read in parts.