The National Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (NAIPA) has alleged that the situation at the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) has deteriorated since the appointment of Mrs. Saratu Umar as the Executive Secretary. NIPC staff have protested for two straight days, demanding Mrs. Umar’s resignation or sack.

“NAIPA is worried that NIPC, which before now had been a vibrant Agency, has been brought down to its knees from its previous enviable position as a recipient of National and International accolades,” NAIPA National Secretary, Chief Adesoji Adesugba, said yesterday in a statement in Abuja.

“The current Executive Secretary appears to have serious challenges with capacity and has been having difficulty in effectively dealing with investors as well as staff of the organisation. We are therefore not surprised that the entire staff of the organisation is insisting she leaves the organisation before more damage is done to its reputation,” the statement said.

NAIPA said it is “catastrophic that the current situation playing out in NIPC.” It added: “What is also worrisome is the negative effect such a situation is having on intending foreign investors wishing to come to Nigeria. The current Executive Secretary of the NIPC who had previously been sacked from NEXIM Bank on grounds of incompetence, low performance and insubordination definitely does not have the capacity to lead such an important organisation as the NIPC. Various stakeholders can attest to the fact that NIPC has performed much below its average since her appointment.

“Definitely the organisation is at its lowest ebb since 1999 when it commenced operations. It is also apparent that Mrs. Saratu Umar has no capacity to run an organisation such as the NIPC.

“While the setting up of a committee to look into the problems at NIPC is a step in the right direction, we are calling on government to ask the Executive Secretary to proceed on leave to ensure that she does not tamper with documents which will be used as evidence of her incompetence or otherwise.”

•Photo shows embattled NIPC Executive Secretary Saratu Umar.