If the words of Presidential Media Adviser, Dr. Reuben Abati, is anything to go by, then President Goodluck Jonathan is not in a hurry to sack the embattled Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina, as demanded by the Senate.
The Senate had on wednesday issued President Jonathan a two-day ultimatum within which to sack Maina.
Reacting to the ultimatum, Abati debunked the insinuations from some senators that the President is shielding the Task Team Chairman from being arrested.
According to the presidential spokesperson, President Jonathan does not need to personally sack him, insisting that Maina, being a civil servant, could only be disciplined by the Head of Service of the Federation in line with laid down civil service rules.
Abati said: “The President has not in anyway stood in the way of the Senate in inviting Maina.
“You will recall that the police even declared him wanted.
“Nobody should suggest that the President is backing Maina.
“It is not an issue for the President.
“Maina is a civil servant.
“If he has done something that amounts to a breach of civil service rule, the appropriate office to do the right thing and ensure that due process is followed is the office of the Head of Service of the Federation.
“There are laid down procedures for handling situations like this.
“The President believes in due process.
“It is a matter for the civil service to handle.
“The President does not have to discipline civil servants personally.
“The Senate has constitutional power to summon anybody.
“If such a person failed to appear before them, the lawmakers are also empowered to issue warrant of arrest against the person.”
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