MAINA: FG DISBANDS PENSION REFORM TASKFORCE

THE Federal Government has disbanded the Pension Reform Taskforce headed by Mr. Adulrasheed Maina as the chairman, over fraud allegations rocking the Taskforce.

A credible source in the Pension Reform Taskforce Office told Nigerian Tribune that the Federal Government has communicated the PRTT in a letter to that effect.

When asked about Maina’s whereabouts, the source said: “I can’t tell you the whereabouts of Maina now but the latest we are getting is that the Task Team has been disbanded. One of my senior officials just asked me to come to the office and pack my things. The fact that Oga is not here to give us directive means he might have travelled, I can’t tell.”

Unconfirmed reports said Maina has fled the country to escape arrest by the police and other security agents.

Also, the Ministry of Interior, has vowed to sanction him in line with the Civil Service Rules and Regulation for gross misconduct.

Maina, who was appointed by the former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye to head the PRTT, is a Deputy Director in the Customs, Immigration, and Prisons Pensions Office (CIPPO), an agency under the Interior Ministry.

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar had declared him wanted following warrant of arrest placed on him by the Nigerian Senate over missing pension fund and his refusal to honour its summon to defend himself.

Chief Press Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Mr. Taye Akinyemi told Nigerian Tribune that acting on the directive by the Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isah Bello Sali, for the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior to institute disciplinary action against Maina, the Ministry will apply appropriate sanction.

He, however, said: “The civil service is structured in such a way that there is procedure for punishment any misconduct by any official of government and nobody is above that process. Anybody that runs foul of the stated process in the Civil Service rules and regulations will be sanctioned accordingly.

“In the case of Maina, it is not going to be different. If it is established that he has absconded from duty, that is a very serious misconduct in the civil service and the Permanent Secretary will follow the law and regulation to its logical conclusion.

“He has an office and he is expected to report to his duty post every day. The ministry will go to his office; he has a boss to who he is accountable. He will be asked, where is your officer? And if the officer is nowhere to be found that is another serious offence in the Civil Service.

“The regulation will take care of that offence. I don’t think it is anything to worry about because the Civil Service now has demonstrated that nobody is above the law. Nobody, as far as the Civil Service is concerned: that tradition is still there. Whosoever runs foul of the rules and regulation guiding the civil service, there are stated penalties that will be applied.

“But the civil Service also gives room for fair hearing. You will be given all the opportunity to defend yourself. This is what we have heard that you have done, you have absconded from duty, is it true? Can you tell us why you are not at your duty post? If he gives an explanation that meets that standard of the civil service regulation, he will be exonerated. But if he is unable to do that, then sanction, as stipulated, will be meted out to him.

“So, nobody can run away from that, no matter how highly placed you are, everybody is accountable,” he said.

However, when contacted, the Director of Press in the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Tope Ajakaiye, said he was not aware that the Task Team has been disbanded. He said such a letter did not get to his table.

He, however, said the Head of Service, “In his directive to the Permanent Secretary, said that following the submission of a report from the Inspector-General of Police to Mr. President of the inability of the Nigeria Police to locate the officer, it has become apparent that he has absconded from duty without leave, an action which, he said, carries severe penalty in line with Public Service Rules No. 030301 to 030304.”

Source: Tribune