Mohammed Shosanya
A Commissioner of the Federal Character Commission representing Delta State, Moses Anaughe, Tuesday said the chairman, Dr. Muheeba Dankaka lied that she had a medical appointment with her doctor in order to avoid ongoing employment racketeering probe in the commission
He disclosed that his boss was currently sitting in her office as the House of Representatives investigative hearing on job racketeering and gross mismanagement of Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) in Nigeria, when was ongoing.
Anaughe stated that this was her usual character of avoiding invitations of the National Assembly.
He added that this was not the first time such was happening, as her usual habit was to send commissioners to represent her at investigative hearings.
The commissioner from Taraba state, Armayau Abubakar, who represented the chairman had earlier presented a letter to the committee from the chairman that she was unavoidably absent due to a medical appointment with her doctor.
When the head of the delegation who stated also appealed that the Commission be given a new date to come with the requirements documents as requested by the commission; and the Chairman of the adhoc committee, Rep.Yusif Gagdi moved that their request be granted.
However, when the Commissioner from Delta came in he stood to introduce himself and said that the Chairman Dankaka was currently in the office and not in the hospital but in the office as at 12 noon was in the office.
“I want to stress that this is her usual excuse for various committees that invited her. I should be on record.If she wants to collect 10 percent of employment she sees that the Chief Executive must come one on one with her. Why is she not here?”, Anaughe stated.
The Committee rescinded its resolution as early moved, as Rep. Gaza Gbuefi move for the resolution to be rescinded, after which the commissioners present were put under oath.
The Committee Chairman therefore ordered that the Chairman Dankaka, and the 27 commissioners appear before the Committee on Wednesday.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas says mismanagement and subversion of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) is a gross misconduct and criminal activities that challenge the very core principles of prudent management of our nation’s financial resources.
According to him, the investigation was important to clean up the system and make it work for the people.
“This Committee emblematises the House’s commitment to entrench transparency, efficiency and accountability in public service. Therefore, as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, I am convinced that fostering good governance in Nigeria’s public institutions is not only a routine legislative responsibility but an obligation we owe to the people of Nigeria.
“The matters before this Ad-hoc Committee represent the yearnings of Nigerian citizens, hence, must be treated with keen attention. The abuse of personnel recruitment and blatant employment racketeering destroys the essence of bureaucratic processes and leaves damaging implications. It affects the integrity of our institutions and distort the aspirations of many citizens who seek competitive and fair opportunities. This negative practice is an affront to the Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution which provides the even distribution of our commonwealth in the spirit of federal character.
“The essence of this provision as explained in Section 318 (1) of the Constitution is to foster national loyalty, inclusiveness and to give every part of the country a sense of belonging. The issues this committee is to investigate negate this very noble intent of the drafters of our Constitution and cannot be overlooked in the spirit of national interest”. Hon Abbas said.
He also challenged the Committee to address the issues head-on and recommend policy agenda for legislative actions.
The mover of the motion that led to the setting up of the Committee, Hon Oluwole Oke, said that the IPPIS is a software and it should not be difficult to submit reports to the committee.
