Workers shut SEC over attempts to reinstate suspended DG
The
battle for the headship of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
got fiercer Monday morning as the Association of Senior Civil Servants
of Nigeria, SEC Branch, locked up offices of the headquarters of the
Commission over attempts by suspended DG Mounir Gwarzo to resume duties.
As
early as 7am, the protesting workers had shut all entry points into SEC
headquarters to prevent vested interests from reinstating Gwarzo who
had been indicted for abuse of office and corruption by an
Administrative Panel of Inquiry set up by the Federal Ministry of
Finance, headed by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Mahmoud Isa-Dutse.
Read also: SEC appoints Sunmonu head of Oando’s interim management Gwarzo
was also indicted by an House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee which
investigated his suspension by the former Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi
Adeosun.
“We are SEC staff members of Senior Staff Association
of Nigeria, SEC branch. We are a labour union that press home demands
and concern with welfare of members,” said Nelson Oleghe, Chairman,
Association of Senior Staff Union, SEC Branch.
“The suspended DG
of SEC has been on suspension for almost two years following allegations
of abuse of office levelled against him. the recommendations of the
Special Investigation Panel that indicted him by the former Honorable
Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun.
“The suspended DG was charged to court by ICPC. The case was poorly handled by the judge and ICPC.
“In
all of the court cases the issues of fraud was not mentioned and areas
pointed out by the SIP was not touched by the judges.”
Oleghe
said the union learnt from a reliable source that the suspended DG after
being “pronounced free by the court$” he wants to stage a come back and
resume duties.
“After due deliberations at an emergency meeting
held on Sunday June 02, 2019 we have unanimously agreed to hold a
peaceful protest to stop the purported action about to be taken by the
suspended DG.We call on all staff of the union, press and general pubic
to be aware and witness our action.
“We believe that an
institution that prescribes good corporate governance should be seen
taking the lead. We say no to Gwarzo,” he added.
The National
Industrial Court (NIC) last Thursday ordered the reinstatement of Mounir
Gwarzo, the suspended Director-General of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC), with all his salaries and allowances paid to him.
In
his ruling, Justice Sanusi Kado held that the Minister of Finance, who
is the second defendant in the suit, lacked the power to suspend Gwarzo,
even as he dismissed three issues raised by defence counsel through
their preliminary objection, ruling that the suit was not statute
barred
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