Reactions continue to trail sacking of NECO boss

 

The termination of the appointment of Prof. Charles Uwakwe as the Registrar/Chief Executive of the National Examinations Council (NECO) and four others over allegation of N25 billion fraud by President Muhammadu Buhari has become an engaging issues on the social media since the announcement was made on Tuesday.

In a statement signed by the Head, Information and Public Relations Division, NECO, Azeez Sani, the Registrar and the four management staff of the Council dismissed for various offences were directed to hand over all Government properties in their custody.

In a letter dated May 11, 2020 and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono, on behalf of the Minister of Education, Uwakwe was accused of violating the Public Procurement Act (2007) and pursuant to PSR 030402 and part 1 schedule 4 (i) of NECO Establishment Act.

Part of the letter reads: “After due consideration of the investigative panel on the allegation of unsatisfactory conduct levelled against you and some Management Staff of the Council, Mr. President in exercise of his powers, has approved your removal as Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of National Examinations Council with effect from the date of your suspension from duty.”

It could be recalled that Prof. Uwakwe and two of the dismissed management staff were on May 10, 2018 placed on suspension while an investigative panel was constituted to probe the allegations of unsatisfactory conduct levelled against them, with one involving the mismanagement of N25 billion.

Also another letter with reference NO: FME/S/1419/C.3/T/98, dated May 11, 2020 and signed by Echono, disclosed that Buhari has approved the dismissal from service of four Management Staff for various offences.

The affected officers are: Bamidele Olure, Acting Director, Finance and Accounts; Dr. Shina Adetona, Head of Procurement Division; Tayo Odukoya, Deputy Director; and Babatunde Aina, Head of Legal/Board matters.

The letter stated: “After due consideration of the Financial Report of the Review Committee, Mr. President has approved the recommendations as follows:

“Mr. Bamidele Amos Olure, Acting Director (Finance and Accounts), dismissal from the service with effect from the date of his suspension from office having been found guilty of financial impropriety and not qualified to Head the Finance and Accounts Department.”

The letter also stated that Dr. Adetona was dismissed from service with effect from the date he was suspended from office for acts tantamount to fraudulent practices, sabotage and suppression of official records pursuant to PSR 030402 (b & t).

He is also to be prosecuted in line with section 58 (5) (a & b) of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) (2007) for flagrant violation of PPA 2007 as Head of Procurement and misleading Management on Procurement.

Also, Odukoya was dismissed from service for acts of serious misconduct, which violates PSR 030301 and PSR 030402 (q) (t) (w).

He is to be prosecuted in line with section 58 (5) (a) and (b) of the Public Procurement Act (2007) for flagrant violation of the Act.

The letter directed the Management of NECO to commence the process of recovering ill-gotten benefits/gains from Odukoya, who acted as Director of a company, M/S I-web Solutions, while in the service of Government.

Aina, a lawyer, was dismissed from service for falsification of records and dishonesty in the sale of NECO Guest House, which violates section 2609 (a) of the Financial Regulations (FR) and PPA (2007) part X section 55 (2) – (4) and section 56 which are tantamount to serious misconduct pursuant to PSR 030301 (g), PSR 030402 (a) and PSR 030402 (m).

Barely few hours after the news of government action came public; President Muhammadu Buhari has come under attack, especially the replacement of the registrar with a Northerner which did not go down well with many Nigerians as they took to their Twitter handles to express their views, accusing the President of nepotism.

@Mr_temitope “Another Abubakar is the acting Registrar. Yes, the former registrar was sacked for corruption which is a grave offence and should be prosecuted but is there no incorruptible Nigerian from another region or tribe? Well those that support nepotism should enjoy it while it lasts.”

@Petre_mc “Mr president continues to systematically eliminate the southerners while replacing them with Northerners. Rwandans genocide na like this it started oh.”

@Faith “Yes another sack to replace them with the most Educated and wise people from the North. It’s not strange anymore. “

@Olatundeolaleye “Must every appointment go to a particular region.”

@ Titilayo_mariam “They will be replaced with names like: Muhammed, Ahmed, Aliyu, Abubakar, Usman, Bello, Aminu, Rabiu, Kyari, , Adamu.”

@Daphinon “Guess Mr President has found a new hobby in sacking his appointees. Sack a southerner, replace with northerner.Sack a northerner, replace with another northerner.”

@Seth “Fulanisation of Nigeria on the move.”

@Ayemojubar “A man that cannot provide his secondary school certificate sacked NECO registrar?What a strange country!

@Adaofpeace129 “How can someone that didn’t go to school or even have NECO result sack NECO registrar.”