By JOHN NWOKOCHA, Abuja

Uncertain times occasioned by alleged victimization of staff, threats of sack, management impunity and unprovoked sanctions have enveloped the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), News Express findings have revealed. The NIPC has been embroiled in crisis since the appointment of Ms Saratu Umar as the Executive Secretary (ES) in July 2022.

In less than three weeks, three sweeping staff postings have been authorised by the office of the ES, Umar, since assumption of office about five months ago. According to News Express sources, the ongoing “punitive postings” is not only against established civil service rules, but also unprecedented in the history of the Commission.

The Internal Memo of the latest posting sighted by News Express, affected 16 staff, including directors. The memo was dated January 18, 2023 and signed by Ag. Director, Human Resource Management (HRM), Sabo Isiaku. It reads: “The Executive Secretary has approved the redeployment of under listed staff members as indicated. Comprehensive handover notes are to be submitted to the person taking over and copied to the Ag. Director, Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM). This posting takes immediate effect.”

The posting which started on December 1, 2022, affected 35 staff, including members of Management Committee, about 18 are on director, deputy director and assistant director levels, as a memo sighted by News Express would prove.

On December 28, 2022, six top personnel and directors were redeployed out of Commission’s head office in Abuja.

Consequently, fears and anxiety, among others, currently rule at NIPC arising from alleged abuse of office by the ES and Chief Executive Officer CEO, Saratu Umar.

The alleged unprovoked random sanction of staff, including directors, started since the ES assumed office, in an effort to flush out of the system, personnel and officers perceived to be “against” the ES’ return. It was further learnt that the alleged “cleansing” is a threat actualised, as a mole allegedly boasted, “we are going to throw some ogas and their boys out of the system.”

Further allegation is that the ongoing punitive staff treatment has the backing of the Presidency. But attempts to speak with the Presidential spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, were futile. An SMS sent to his phone for clarification on the allegation on Sunday morning didn’t get a reply or attention. His phone was busy as at time calls were put across to him.

A former Ag. ES, Mr Emeka Offor, was the first victim of the “cleansing.” He was sacked in November. Paragraph six of his letter of sack reads: Having fully exhausted your contract appointment of 4 years and presumably, another term of 4 years (from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2021) as clearly stated in your letter of appointment under reference, you are hereby directed to exit the service of the Commission in line with your letter of appointment.”

It was reliably gathered that the Minster of the Commission’s supervising Ministry, Industry, Trade and Investment, Otumba Niyi Adebayo, has directed that a process be set to probe anti-corruption allegation accusing Saratu Umar of financial transactions without due diligence and violation of both the Public Procurement Act and financial regulations of Nigeria.

Another case of “flush out of the system,” it was further learnt, that is currently degenerating to “dirty” fights in the Commission is one involving the Director of Finance, Mr James Akwada. Some aggrieved directors had petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS), requesting the Service to protect them from Saratu Umar over an allegation that she plans to use thugs to beat up, physically attack and inflict bodily harm on them and some members of staff of the Commission.

It was gathered that several representations have been made to Mr Niyi Adebayo on the non-adherence to civil service rules and unprofessional leadership style of the ES who was previously sacked from the commission in 2015 by President Goodluck Jonathan on account of the same behaviour, among other things.

Findings show that these directors, six of them, in a letter to the Director-General of the DSS, had called on the Services to protect them from Saratu Umar over allegation that she plans to use thugs to beat up, physically attack and inflict bodily harm on them and some members of staff of the commission.

The six directors said Umar boastfully made the threat to harm them, at least twice, in the afternoon of Friday, December 23, 2022 to James Akwada, while harassing and insulting him in the presence of Mr Tanimu Shekogoza (the DSS officer assigned to NIPC) and Mr Fenegal Iyamba, a Deputy Director.

The directors are Hajja Gana Wakil, Mr John Oseji, Mr James Akwada, Mr Abubakar Yerima, Barrister Patience Okala and Mr Umar Bello.

In a joint letter to Mr Niyi Adebayo, they said despite the achievement of the Commission in administering the Pioneer Status Incentive (PSI), “it is unfortunate, painful and disheartening that Yusuf Mustapha who is a member of the PSI Technical Committee and is well aware of the way we follow due process, decided to smear the character of staff of the division by alleging that the redeployment was based on ‘discovered racketeering, misapplying of the provision, undetailed and other underhand practices in the process of approval of the PSI by the cult-like actors in the process.’

“These allegations not only affect our integrity as individuals but that of the NIPC as well.”

The PSI is a tax holiday that grants qualifying industries and products relief from payment of corporate income tax for an initial period of three years, extendable for one or two additional years. The intendment is to encourage the flourishing of businesses.

However, the NIPC has admitted that it failed to consider PSI application, since Umar assumed office.

Another allegation against the ES is the payment of over N5 million for an event to be held in Lagos later this month. A petitioner from the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) of the Commission had written the ICPC to investigate the ES for failing to follow due process in financial transactions. News Express source said the event has either been cancelled or kept on hold due to the crisis at the Commission.

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