Oghenerhoro had alleged in his petition that some civil servants joined the ministry with fake appointment letters.
A human rights organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has threatened to sue the Nigerian Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) over a move to dismiss or retire a whistleblower, Richard Oghenerhoro for uncovering fake employment in the ministry and making it public.
Oghenerhoro had alleged in his petition, obtained by The PUNCH, that some civil servants joined the ministry with fake appointment letters.
An investigative panel was constituted following the receipt of Oghenerhoro’s petition dated July 22, 2020.
The panel led by Rufus-Ebegba Immaculata, a senior official of the ministry recommended in its report that disciplinary action with the option of dismissal should be taken against him.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who was taunted to be an anti-corruption crusader rode to power in 2015 on the mantra that his government will fight official corruption in the Nigerian system, had said "if we don't kill corruption, it will kill us".
After he rode to power in February 2017, his regime launched the whistle-blowing policy.
According to the government, the aim of the policy is to increase the exposure of financial crimes; support the fight against financial crimes and corruption; improve the level of public confidence in public entities and enhance transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.
However, contrary to this Policy, the Ministry's Panel found Mr Oghenerhoro guilty of misconduct, breach of oath of secrecy, unauthorised disclosure of official information and copying of official documents, contrary to the provisions of the Public Service Rules (PSR).
The PSR 030301(f), notes that civil servants who are found guilty of misconduct under the section can have their appointments terminated or be forced to retire.
Also recommended in the investigative panel report which had been submitted to the works and housing minister, was the re-deployment of four officials of the ministry for documenting and enrolling the officers uncovered by Oghenerhoro into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) platform.
In the report, the committee noted that one of the civil servants with the fake employment letter noted, “His uncle got the job for him and had no idea about the status of his letter; he also informed the committee that he has been receiving salary since January 2020.”
While the committee noted that the officials with the fake employment letters should be sanctioned, it, however, noted that the four officials who documented the fake civil servants would be redeployed from the ministry for failing to do their work with due diligence.
The report read in part, “The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing should immediately stop further payment of salary to the officers with alleged fake letters of appointment and their names forwarded to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission for further Investigation.
“The Department of Human Resource Management should be directed to ensure that the names of the officers with alleged fake letters of appointment are immediately delisted from the nominal roll, stopped from performing any official duty and their relevant departments duly notified.
“The Deputy Director (Appointment, Promotion and Discipline) be charged with the responsibility of authenticating letters of appointment from the Federal Civil Service Commission.
“The Department of Human Resource Management should be directed to issue preliminary letters to the following officers mentioned in the petition and also redeploy them: Mr Usman Muktar – Principal Executive Officer I (IPPIS) SGL.12; Mr John Omini – Senior Administrative Officer (Appt.) SGL.10; Mr Richard Dokitri – Senior Administrative Officer (Nominal Roll) SGL. 10; and Mrs Eunice Chiobi – Senior Executive Officer (IPPIS) SGL. 09.
“The committee also recommended disciplinary action against the petitioner, Mr Richard Oghenerhoro, over his misconduct, breach of oath of secrecy, unauthorised disclosure of official information and abstraction or copying of official documents without approval as enshrined in Public Service Rules 030301 (f), 030415, 030416 and 030417 respectively.”
Not satisfied with the decision of the panel SERAP took to its Twitter handle on Friday to announce that it will sue Mr Fashola.
It wrote: "We're suing Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN Minister of Works over the move by the Ministry to dismiss or retire a whistleblower, Richard Oghenerhoro for uncovering fake employment in the Ministry of Works and Housing, Abuja and making this public. @Africmil @HEDAgenda."