The relationship between the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha and the Chief of Staff (COS) to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, may be severed owing to the sack of the former managing director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Usman Mohammed.
POLITICS NIGERIA learnt that Mr Mohammed was sacked following the approval by President Muhammadu Buhari through the Office of Mr Gambari.
In a letter, Mr Gambari notified the minister of Power of the Presidential approval of the dismissal of Mr Mohammed.
He then directed that Sure Abdulaziz be installed as acting managing director pending the submission of a substantive list for the board and executive management of the company. However, the decision did not go well with Mr Mustapha who felt the dismissal did not go through the right channel.
Reacting to the dismissal, Mr Mustapha, released a circular on what should be the procedure for the removal of heads of public agencies in the country.
Also, the SGF decried the “arbitrary removal” of chief executive officers (CEOs) of government agencies and parastatals in the circular, restating that no minister has the power to unilaterally remove CEOs of agencies without going through the disciplinary procedure approved by the President for erring heads of agencies.
He stated that: “When an act bordering on serious misconduct against a chief executive officer is reported, it shall be the duty of the supervising minister through the permanent secretary to refer the matter to the governing board for necessary action.”
According to the SGF, the board shall issue the alleged a query requesting an explanation with respect to the specific act(s) complained about.
” … the board shall forward its findings and recommendations to the minister for further consideration and necessary action; upon receipt of the submission from the minister, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation shall without delay cause an independent investigation and advise Mr. President on the appropriate course of action.”
Although the circular was not addressed at any ministry, it was gathered that, from all indications, the SGF’s directive was specifically targeted at the Minister of Power.
Like Kyari, Like Gambari
Similar to the directive given when late Abba Kyari was his Chief of Staff, President Buhari has directed all correspondences to be channelled through his new Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari.
This particular directive was the genesis of the grouse of some cabinet members had against the deceased, who wielded so much power and influence.
In lieu of the directive, the removal of the TCN MD was a directive of the President, which was passed through Mr Gambari to the minister of power.
Meanwhile, in its reaction, the labour movement expressed shock on the circular of the SGF, insinuating that it was an attempt to restore the former TCN MD to office.
In a letter to President Buhari, signed by the general secretary, Umar Abubakar Dubagari, labour declared that the unions in the power sector would go on strike if the sacked MD be reinstated.
“Your Excellency is hereby notified of pending labour action by our union and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the unlikely event that the circular restores UG Mohammed to TCN and if the wrongful termination of our president is not reversed immediately,” the letter read.
