Following the two-day ultimatum issued by the Senate to the presidency to immediately sack Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, the presidency has said that this can only be done by following existing civil service rule.
The Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, while reacting to the ultimatum affirmed that though the president did not support Maina , he added that the lawmakers can summon anyone they so wish to.
He said, “as a man that believes in the rule of law, the president believes that laid down procedure should be followed in addressing issues,” adding that the process of stripping any erring civil servant of his job resides in the hands of Head of Service of the Federation, that is the executor of the regulations guiding the hiring and firing of anyone found wanting.
His words: “the senate has constitutional power to summon anybody. If such person failed to appear before them, the lawmakers are also empowered to issue warrant of arrest against the person.
“The president has not in any way stood in the way of the senate in inviting Maina. You will recall that the police even declared him wanted.
“Maina is a civil servant. If he has done something that amount to a breach of civil service rule, the appropriate office to do the right thing and ensure that due process is followed is the office of the head of service of the federation.”
The Senate had on Wednesday ordered the presidency to dismiss Mr Maina as the Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team.
The Federal lawmakers were furious over the repeated refusal of Mr Maina to appear before its committee investigating pension administration to answer allegations of his involvement in a N195 billion pension scam.
All the 108 senators at the plenary signed the motion for the removal of Mr Maina as the head of the Pension Reform Task Team.
Comments