Wanted former chairman of the Presidential Task Team on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina is yet to be disengaged from the Federal Civil Service, despite a sack order by President Muhammadu Buhari days ago, Punch reports.

Background:

• Maina was said to have committed N2bn fraud in 2011 before fleeing out of the country.
• He was later discovered to be an assistant director in the Ministry of Internal Affairs while still on the EFCC’s wanted list.
• President Buhari immediately ordered his sack from the Federal Civil Service.

The report:

According to Punch, the Federal Civil Service Commission had yet to commence the process.

It was learnt that there are certain processes required to rightfully disengage a civil servant.

A serving director in one of the Federal Government ministries said an accused person was entitled to an opportunity to defend himself before the next action is taken.

He said, “It will require first that a query be issued to the person concerned; he can then be warned as the case may be and then a board/committee will be set up to investigate the matter.

“And in the course of its investigations, the board has powers, according to our rules, to summon the accused person to defend himself. It is after this procedure is carefully followed that further action can be taken.”

He added, “Yes, the President has spoken. My understanding of what he said is that the civil service commission, which has the statutory duty of hiring and firing, should commence the procedure of ensuring that this happens.

“Mr. President that I know is a man that follows procedure; that is why some of his actions are being misinterpreted to mean he is slow.”

Azeez