Aisha didn’t order sacking of presidential amnesty office employees — Aide

Tue, Apr 9, 2019 | By publisher


Politics

THE Presidential Amnesty Office has denied a report alleging the involvement of the President’s wife, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, in the sacking of staff members of the office.

Mr. Murphy Ganagana, the Special Assistant (Media) to the Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday described the report as a “fairy tale.’’

An online platform had alleged that Mrs. Buhari gave the coordinator of PAP a directive to sack the affected workers for allegedly leaking documents of an alleged contract scam.

Ganagana said the report further alleged that Dokubo had told some unnamed senior officials of the Amnesty Programme that he got a directive from Aisha to sack some staff members.

He noted that the Office of the President’s wife does not interfere in the affairs of PAP and has, at no time, requested or directed Prof. Dokubo to sack any staff member of the Amnesty Office.

Ganagana said that contrary to the report, no official of PAP was sacked for any reason whatsoever, and there was no contract scam at the Amnesty Office.

“The report is standing truth on its head; its claim that Prof. Dokubo was tongue-lashed by senior officials of the Presidency who queried him over leaked deals is a wicked lie.

“Prof. Dokubo was neither invited nor queried by the Presidency over leaked deals or documents and he did not get any directive to sack any staff member of the Amnesty Office.

“The latest missile fired at Prof. Dokubo and the Amnesty Programme is in reaction to a recent failed attempt which crumbled and missed its target following a lucid presentation of facts on the alleged N3.2bn contract scam by the Amnesty Office to members of the public.

“We wish to reiterate that there is no contract scam in the Amnesty Programme, just as no staff (member) has been sacked either on a directive by the First Lady or for any other reason whatsoever,@ Ganagana added.

He, however, said it should be emphasised that as a public agency, officials of PAP engaged either as consultants or civil servants were subject to Public Service Rules 030302 to 030306 relating to disciplinary procedures for misconduct.

“To this end, six staff (members) of the Amnesty Office comprising four consultants and two civil servants were recently suspended from duty for breaching provisions of the Public Services Rules.

“They are expected to appear before a legally constituted panel in accordance with statutory procedure. (NAN)

– Apr. 9, 2019 @ 19:32 GMT |

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