Senate Orders Reinstatement of Sacked NDPHC GM, Mohammed

Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

The Senate has ordered the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) to immediately reinstate the sacked General Manager (Audit & Compliance) Mrs. Maryam Danna Mohammed, who was sacked 19 months ago when President Muhammadu Buhari dissolved the board of the company.

The Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Privileges found that Mohammed is not a member of the executive management of the company, who constitute the board of the NDPHC, and that she is one of 13 General Managers, with the remaining 12 GMs not affected by the dissolution.

In her petition to the senate submitted on her behalf by Senator Baba Kaka Bashir Garbai (Borno APC), Mohammed had appealed to the Senate to ensure her reinstatement after 24 years of meritorious service in the service of Nigeria.
Adopting the recommendations of the committee, the senate also directed the company, to pay Mohammed all her entitlements.

The Committee Chairman, Senator Sam Anyanwu, who presented the report, said her disengagement was not in line with due process, as she was never queried or sanction for nay infraction.

He explained further that her position is not an appointive one, but one attained while rising through the ranks, after 24 years of meritorious service.

“Prior to her disengagement, there was no meeting presided over by the Chairman of the company’s board, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo or any other member of the Board of NDPHC where the decision to disengage her was taken.
“The disengagement of the officer along with the Executive Management and the Executive Directors of NDPHC was out of order because due process in accordance with the terms and conditions of employment and disengagement of officers in the company was not followed,” Anyanwu added.

The resolution is to be transmitted to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Mohammed had petitioned President Buhari, in June 2016, and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who is the Chairman of the NDPHC, over her wrongful disengagement from service. After investigations by the Office of the Attorney General, Mr. Abubakar Malami were concluded in October 2016, the President directed that she be reinstated.

A copy of Malami’s letter to the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari, reads
“Please refer to your letter reference No SH/DSD/COS/03/1/A/15 dated 1st July 2016 and our response Ref. No. MJ/DSD/ SH/ 22/ Vol 1/38 dated 7th September, 2016 on the above subject matter. In this connection, I wish to convey to you, Mr. President’s approval vide a meeting with me on the 12th October, 2016 for the reinstatement of the staff (petitioner), Mrs. Maryam Danna Mohammed.”

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