- Maina has yet to be officially sacked from the civil service
- This is even after President Buhari gave an order for his disengagement
- A director who spoke anonymously said he still has a right to defend himself
The process of sacking Abdulrasheed Maina from the civil service has not begun despite the order by President Muhammadu Buhari that he be disengaged from the service.
The Punch reports that as at close of work on Friday, October 27, the civil service has yet to start the process for the sacking of the embattled ex-chairman of the Presidential Task Team on Pension Reforms.
READ ALSO: Obasanjo reacts to Maina's botched recall
It was revealed that it would require strict adherence to civil service rules and procedures in order to avoid its nullification through the judicial process for a person to be disengaged.
A serving director of the one of the ministries who spoke on the condition of anonymity said an accused person had the right to defend himself irrespective of the severity of the offense.
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.”
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When reminded of President Buhari’s order for Maina to be disengaged, the director said: “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.”
NAIJ.com had earlier reported that Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo reacted to the botched recall of Maina saying it should never have happened.
He said: “Corruption must be punished, and must be seen to be punished. Any accomplice in corruption and cover-up and any failure to punish must also earn punishment.
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Source: Naija.ng