Confusion at NITDA as FG Suspends CEO

 FG receives 49 applications for NIPOST helmsman

By  Dele Ogbodo in Abuja


The alleged suspension of the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Peter Jack, at the weekend has created confusion at the headquarters of the information technology regulator over who would manage the agency until he either returns or a new DG is appointed.  
 

Jack, THISDAY gathered, was however yet to officially receive the suspension letter while effort to reach him for comments was unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, Mr. Isaac Olayinka Adejuyigbe, whom THISDAY also learnt is the most senior officer in NITDA hierarchy was posted to the South-west Zonal Directorate, Lagos, by the embattled DG, who may now be on the way out of NITDA for various allegations of misdeeds levelled against. 

 Jack’s  suspension is coming on the heels of the report submitted by the probe panel set up by the Minister of Communications Technology, Mr. Adebayo Shittu.
Compounding the scenario of succession, the Director of Strategy, Mr. Vincent Olatunji, who is the most senior officer in Abuja, was said to be unqualified to hold forth in acting capacity as the head of the agency because he is considered to be Adejuyigbe’s junior in official public service hierarchy.  

An authoritative source from the ministry who asked not to be named said the DG, Jack, is going on suspension, adding that the announcement will not be made for the general public, insisting that the letter is ready and will soon be delivered to him.
 According to him, the suspension of the DG will not exceed this week as his case is said to be a bad one. He said the probe panel report indicated that he was running the place like it was his personal estate. He did not get board approvals for all his major decisions.  Explaining further, the source added that even when he approached the ministry for the approval of some projects and was advised to stay action, he  went ahead  against the directive of the ministry,  

The source added: “He went ahead and employed over 200 applicants of his choice. There is also the case of corruption that has been levelled against him and the investigation is still on going on that,” he said. The Minister recently set a probe panel to investigate the DG’s breach of civil service rule and procurement Act and financial recklessness. The minister, according to reports was angered by his non-adherence to a letter with circular number PS/MCT/014/Vol.1/56, dated August 14, 2015 and signed by the former Permanent Secretary, Mr. Tunji Olaopa.
 

On the vacancy of the PostMaster General (PGM) of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), it was gathered that the ministry received 49 applications from both the public and within the service. He added that government will soon constitute a panel with the view to pruning the number down before they will be interviewed.
 A senior officer at NITDA who spoke also asked not to be named corroborated the story of  Jack’s suspension, stating that it  may likely commence this week. 

He said: “Yes, news filtered in that he is going on suspension, though he has not received the suspension letter as at Friday, it is like they are going to give him the letter today Monday (today). Definitely he is going on suspension. We would wait for the ministry on the next line of action on who succeeds him.