By Benjamin Adeyemi, Kaduna
Director- General National Research Institute For Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria, Prof, Jeffery Tsware Baminas, has told a group, Network For Justice, who levelled corruption allegation against him, to rather go after his predecessors who he said were reportedly indicted by Anti Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) for misappropriation of the Institute’s funds.
Network For Justice, a Human Right Organization, had in a petition to the Minister of Science and Technology, dated 25th January, 2021 accused the Director-General of abuse of office and breach of public service rules.
The organization also accused Prof. Baminas of bias in the promotion exercise, non remittance of Internally Generated Revenue, witch-hunting in the transfer of staff and irregularity in contract appointment, saying that, “It is crystal clear that the Director-General of NARICT contravened the provision of the 5th schedule, Part 1, Section(1) of the constitution of Nigeria (1999) as amended”.
Reacting to the allegations, Prof. Baminas said, “There is a huge difference between how budget funds were utilized before my administration. The investigations reports from the Anti- Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) gives a clear picture of the financial and budgetary infractions by my predecessors in office which included misapplication/ misappropriation of budget funds, non implementation of approved projects with cash backing and movement of institute’s property without documentation’’.
He however threatened to sue the petitioners over the allegations levelled against him and use of ethno-religion sentiments in running the affairs of the institution.
According to him, the allegations of witch-hunting in staff transfer or posting exercise were made out of ignorance and cynicism as well as deliberate attempt to tarnish his image.
“The Deputy Directors, Dr. Musa Mohammed, posted to Amasiri, Ebonyi state to drive the utilization of indigenous Technologies in salt Project, Dr Haruna a Chemical Engineer, transfered to Langtan to drive our solid Mineral Development Programmes and Mr. Bala Danladi posted to kano to handle commercial activities of the Institute, were done with highest level of professionalism and patriotism.’’
On diversion of budget funds, the Director- General said the petitioners failed to explain how the budget was diverted looking at the period he took over in 2017.
He however refuted allegations of non –payment of Staff transfer allowances, noting that all staff transfer to outstations have been paid their entitlements 100 per cent, adding that, “no staff has been transfered to Rivers State as at today nor has any staff transferred based on hatred, dislike, favour or punishment to perfect any cleansing agenda as put forward by petitioners’’.
He also dismissed the allegation of irregularity in the promotion exercise in the institute, saying, “all promotion exercises were done transparently in accordance with extant rules and held with absolute integrity, noting that the directors of Chemical Technology and Human Resources of Ministry of Science and Technology can attest to that fact.
On contract appointment, the Director-General said, no any contract staff was witch-hunted or denied any schedule as claimed by the petitioners, “In fact, many had their contract appointments renewed even when I took over in recognition of their wealth of experiences, like the Internal Auditor who was retained by Prof. Idris Bugaje in 2016.
He listed Mallam Salisu A saleem, Deputy Administration, now HOD SERVICOM. Dr. Abdulrahaman A, Galadanci, HOD Human Resources and Mallam Suleiman Abubakar and HOD Taraba Enterprenuship among staff currently active in their Department.
The Director- General said it was surprising that, “Network for Justice” whose stock in trade should be equity and fair treatment did not mention the case of Shitu Umaru Mohammed who headed a textile Department without Phd, adding that, “It is strange that the Nework For justice seem to lack information when it concern some group of persons but have abundant information’s , when it concerns some specific groups”.
He however said that, the petition was written out of desperation of some vested interested who are vehemently oppose to his headship of NARICT and would go to any length no matter how putrid. “The common traits in all these petitions are the intent to cause ethnic and religious crisis in the institute’’ he said.
