The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Muhammed Bashir, is in trouble over the recent leadership tussle in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, The Punch is reporting.
It can be recalled that when Patrick Akpobolokemi was sacked as the agency’s Director-General on July 16, President Muhammadu Buhari had directed him to hand over the management of NIMASA and all government property in his possession to the most senior officer in the agency.
The officer was to remain in charge until the appointment of a substantive DG.
Following that directive, Akpobolokemi last week Tuesday handed over to the agency’s Executive Director in charge of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Barrister Calistus Nwabueze Obi.
According to another report by Ships and Ports Online on Friday, a mild drama played out at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos State three days after the handing over.
It was discovered that Obi was not the most senior officer.
This led to the elevation of the agency’s Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Haruna Baba Jauro, to the position of the acting DG as he was discovered to be the most senior officer.
Jauro was said to have formally lodged a protest against Akpobolokemi at the Ministry of Transport and Office of the Head of Service of the Federation before the reversal was made.
Sunday Punch newspaper reported that a source in the ministry informed its correspondent on Saturday that the Permanent Secretary was suspected to have played a role in the initial elevation of Obi as the acting DG.
The source said Obi had already been issued a query by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Danlandi Kifasi.
Kifasi also gave Bashir a query.
The source added that Kifasi issued the query on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhair, who was angry that his directive was not followed on the choice of the acting DG.
The source told Sunday Punch: “I can confirm to you that the Permanent Secretary has been queried by the Head of Service due the embarrassment caused by that drama in the agency. He is expected to explain his role in the matter.”
The source said the reversal of role between the two top officials of NIMASA was a result of the investigation which revealed that although the two of them were appointed at the same time, Jauro resumed in the agency about three days ahead of Obi.
“The two of them were appointed the same day but their record of resumption showed that the new acting DG resumed about three days before Obi resumed,” the source added.
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