…Calls For The Removal, Probe Of Fmr. DG Prof. Madugu
The Labour Unions at the National Metallurgical Development Centre, (NMDC) Jos have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to save the establishment from total collapse occasioned by deep-rooted corruption, illegality and impunity by the Centre’s erstwhile Director General and Chief Executive Officer,Prof. Ibrahim Abdullahi Madugu in connivance with some authorities in the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.
The appeal was made in a statement signed by the three Chairmen of the unions in the centre ,which include the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI) Comrades Ucheji Nwancho, Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI)Comrade Mayaleeke Adekunle Hassan and Non-Academics Staff Union (NASU) Comrade Biyal Ezekiel Daniel and made available to journalists
They alleged that Madugu with the active support of some officials in the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development has continued to function as the DG/CE of NMDC despite the fact that his tenure elapsed in April 28, 2016, including two terms extensions of three months each by the Ministry which also elapsed on October 28, 2016.
“It is on record that the erstwhile DG/CE of the Centre Prof. Ibrahim Madugu is neither in the centre’s staff list nor on its payroll since the 28th of October, 2016 till date, but he (Prof. Madugu) had continued to illegally preside over the affairs of NMDC including award of contracts, expending the Centre’s fund, deployment and harassment of staff perceived to be against his acts of illegality. He also caused a major disunity in the Centre by coercing and sponsoring some staff to form Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) on the 1st of December, 2016, all designed to assist his act of illegality” They revealed.
The union leaders expressed shock at the attitude of the Ministry, who according to them despite overwhelming cases of corruption, inefficiency and abuse of process against Madugu went ahead to approve first and second tenure extensions of three months each to him which ended on October 28,2016.
The chairmen recalled and alleged that the erstwhile DG/CE Madugu diverted the sum of N149, 605,944.00 sent by the Federal Government in 2013 for the payment of staff salary arrears, including another N 10,050,000.00 Federal Government Staff Bonus/Incentives to the Centre in 2010, while also pleading with both EFCC and ICPC to help recover the money for staff.
They further alleged that the erstwhile DG/CE also diverted the sum of N118, 000,000.00 sent to the centre for capital project in the last quarter of 2016.
The chairmen also revealed that all the yearly budgetary and other financial allocations to the centre for the seven years of the erstwhile DG/CE were grossly mismanaged.
In addition they stated that the centre existed for the seven years of Magudu’s maladministration without functional laboratories, basic working materials and consumables, while manpower development and staff welfare were relegated to the background.
The union leaders also alleged that the former DG/CE has not returned the centre’s only project/utility vehicle, which he took to his farm in Kaduna State since 2013, as a result of which research and development activities were stalled in the centre.
According to the chairmen, “It is a case of deep-rooted corruption in every aspect of the Centre’s Operations and regrettably all the structures Prof. Ibrahim Madugu met in 2010 when he was appointed DG/CE of NMDC are today grounded.”
The chairmen expressed hope that President Buhari would listen to their cry for help and appoint a capable person as the DG/CE in NMDC since all their appeals and letters for intervention from the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development have failed.
