FIIRO: Governing board indicted over DG’s removal

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The last may have not been heard over the removal of the acting Director-General(DG), of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), Dr Chima Igwe as a group has accused the governing board of the institute of abuse of power and arbitrarily acting without due process.

The group, Coalition of Civil Society Groups in Nigeria therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to consider dissolving the governing board without delay as they have acted in disobedience to existing law that stipulates the procedures to be followed in the discipline (removal) of chief executives of government agencies.

The spokesperson of the group, Comrade Emmanuel Ayodeji in a release made available to nation Update described the recent demotion of the former acting DG as a charade, accused the Chairman of the Council of working against the interest of the administration of President Buhari.

The group applauded the recent directive by the Honorable Minister of Science and technology, Dr Ogbonaya Onu for the reinstatement of Dr.Igwe as a clear demonstration that the government is not willing to allow itself or the institutions of government to be used by certain politically exposed persons, to advance ethnic interest and bring the present administration to derision.

The action taken by the minister may not be unconnected to the recent memo from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, to ministers, head of civil service of the federation, and heads of Federal Government agencies stating the laid down procedures to discipline government top shots in the country.

Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation

In the memo dated May 20, 2020, stated that President Buhari had approved that when a chief executive of an agency is accused of “serious misconduct,” it is the duty of the supervising minister to refer the matter to the Governing Board for necessary action, through the Permanent Secretary.

 According to the memo, the concern of the Federal Government was necessitated by the arbitrary removal of chief executive officers and its impact in service delivery.

The procedure adopted in the suspension of Dr. Igwe by the FIIRO Governing Board on February 19, 2020 over his PhD Certificate obtained from Universite d’Abomey-Calavi, Benin Republic, may have fallen short of the laid down procedure of the federal government.

SGFs memo stated that where the Governing Board initiates the disciplinary action, it must query the chief executive officer and obtain explanation before making recommendations for punishment to the minister.

It went further to say that on receipt of the minister’s directive, the Governing Board shall issue a query to the chief executive officer requesting explanation, following which the board shall forward its findings and recommendation to the minister for “further consideration and action.”

The minster upon receipt of the Governing Board’s recommendation, shall make recommendations to the SGF, attaching the board’s position and the affected chief executive officer’s explanation, the SGF will therein make recommendations to the President, when the President approves, he shall convey such to the chief executive officer concerned.

The memo however stated thus; “This procedure shall serve as a mandatory guide, and all ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and any other public officer in similar supervisory position are enjoined to strictly abide by its content. For emphasis, on no account shall a minister of the Federal Republic unilaterally or arbitrarily remove a serving chief executive officer, without recourse to the procedure contained in this circular.”

Dr. Igwe

Sources to our reporter revealed that Igwe was suspended before the board realized it had not done the first thing first before carrying out his suspension. It therefore initiated move to correct the anomaly. He was subsequently queried by an investigative committee of the board, and was asked to report back on February 27, 2020, 17 days after his suspension and replacement carried out via an email sent to him.

Justifying its position on the call for the dissolution of the governing board, the civil society group further stated, that the law is clear over the functions of the governing council, as the involvement of the council in the daily running of the Institute was improper.

It described as ridiculous, the actions of the governing board, which include conspiring with some directors of the Institute, to destabilize, and perpetrate corruption, saying it is clear that the board is on a self-serving mission.

Ayodeji

The group said, “Igwe had come to unravel the massive corruption taking place in the Institute, which has made the cartel to be at war with him. These they have employed several means, to achieve, including the recent engagements of the governing board of the Institute, to illegally force Dr Igwe out of Office.”

Few weeks ago, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, had directed the Governing Board of FIIRO to recall the suspended DG and reinstate him to his position, a directive which the board was yet to comply with.

A major basis of contention over Igwe’s PhD certificate hinges on the misapplication of the word “attestation” from French to English since “attestation” in French means “certificate.”

On completion of his doctorate degree programme, the University issued him with a letter dated March 12, 2019 and signed by Prof Valentin D. Wotto, entitled “attestation.”

Universite d’Abomey-Calavi, Benin Republic

Though the word “attestation” has the same spelling in French and English, it is however pronounced differently and means different things generally in the two languages. whereas “attestation” means “certificate” in French, it means “evidence of proof” in English as has also been proven by google.