…Commissioners petition chairman to ICPC
BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – Barely seven months on resumption of duties, Commissioners of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) are locked in a ‘battle’ with the Chairman, Dr. Muheeba Farida Dankaka over allegations of corrupt practices, abuse of office, subversion of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), FCC (Establishment Act), rules for plenary 2015, and illegal arrogation of powers against.
The commissioners working on the aegis of “Concerned Commissioners” feeling they can no longer condone the actions of the Chairman, decided to petition her to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The petition which was signed by two members of the commission namely; Mr. Augustine Wokocha and AbdulWasiu Bawa-Allah, on behalf of their colleagues, stated that since they assumed duty, the Chairman has been committing one form of grave infractions or the other in addition to flagrant disregard of their advice and cautions.
The commissioners in the petition, confirmed a story earlier anchored by Forefront News in November 21, 2020, saying that one of the malfeasance and most egregious is Dr. Dankaka’s unilateral decision to employ 22 people of whom 50 per cent are not only from her State, but from her senatorial district.
The petitioners also alleged that the FCC Chairman also unilaterally awarded N36million (precisely N35,706,002. 00) to a contractor for a media advert, which was over and above the budgetary provision of N7,409,534 allocated for publicity and advertisement.
The two commissioners on behalf of the colleagues further said; “Even the content of the media advert was shallow and thereby require a thorough investigation to determine the actual cost expended on the advert”.
The duo of Wokocha and Bawa-Allah also said that the job racketeering status for which the Federal Character Commission is known for is well established, yet the Chairman is involved in the indiscriminate granting of waivers to some selected Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), thereby discountenancing the principle of federal character.
Bawa-Allah and Wokocha further aver saying; “In a flagrant disobedience to this guideline, which is criminal in the Commission Act for anyone who flouts it, the Chairman is well known to liaise directly with CEOs, sort things out with them, granting waiver and certificate of compliance without recourse to the Commission, as enshrined in Rule 28 of the Rules for Plenary 2015, and thereby creates injury to many job seekers and in the process build animosity among Nigerians”.
The duo on behalf of their colleagues, called on the ICPC to as a matter of national interest, carry out a thorough investigation of the activities of the FCC’s Chairman.
They further stated; “We have noted with pain and disappointment that Dr. Muheeba Farida Dankaka is fond of lobbying, influencing and luring anyone or bodies of authorities that receive complaints against her. But we believe that the ICPC will stand in the interest of the country, and her people at large, to get to the root of the matter by launching a forensic investigation of the Commission and prosecute the culprits so as to serve as deterrent to others.”
However, in a statement of response by the Director, Public Affairs and Communication of the FCC, Dipo Akinsola, cleverly dodged commenting on the N35.7million advert payment, job racketeering and the petition to the ICPC, but chose to comment only on the working relationship between the Commissioners and Directors of the FCC as outlined by the Chairman.
Akinsola said that over 30 Commissioners of the Commission are currently working in harmony with the Executive Chairman in bringing positive changes, adding that only five of the Commissioners are fighting for their personal and selfish interest.
He said that the five commissioners want business as usual in the Commission which is not possible under the Chairman’s watch.
Akinsola said that the contents of the publications circulating in the media are false and mere fabricated stories to dent the image of the Executive Chairman through social media.
He further said; “In the last six months, the Chairman has brought positive changes to the Commission in all areas and centralized the administrative structure of the Monitoring and Enforcement Department.
“The monthly monitoring allowance of Commissioners has been embedded into their monthly salaries as approved by the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.
“Let me state here that the Commissioners cannot work in isolation. The Directors and career officers will join in the smooth operation of the Commission.
“These allegations are not true in all areas. The Executive Chairman and Commissioners assumed office during the peak of the terrifying COVID-19 which slows down the operation of government generally.
“We thank God that there is improvement in the allocation to the Commission by Mr. President. Once the implementation of the year’s budget commences, there will be improvement in the activities of the Commission,” Akinsola said.
