The allegation of favoritism and abuse of office leveled against the Managing Director of Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, seems to be exposing the credibility crisis rocking the Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) in Nigeria, as over 20 of them dissociated selves from the intended protest by CSOs against him.
A coalition of over 20 civil rights groups yesterday described as “a pure blackmail by mischief makers”, the allegations that Ibrahim recruited people mainly from Kano state and awarded contracts to cronies and family members.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the President of the coalition, Com. Etuk Williams, advised the CSOs to desist from being used by some people to achieve their selfish interest.
“In recent times, we have been receiving series of complaints and varying opinions from affiliate bodies and members luring us as a parent body to stage, or rather join in, a mass protest against NDIC,” he said.
“As part of our modus operandi, it is pertinent that we crucially investigate issues with benefit of fair hearing before taking any position on any issue.
“There were allegations of flagrant abuse of civil service rules in the area of employment and award of contract by NDIC management especially its MD and subsequent call for his sack.
“It was alleged that his recruitment was massively one sided only in Favour of his state of origin (kano) and contracts are given to his families and cronies alone without any regard for the Procurement Act.”
Following these allegations, the coalition said that it approached the corporation and their reactions attested that “they do not have any skeleton in their cupboard.”
He added: “Our investigation revealed that the management actually recruited some staff between 2010 till date, as a result of gross shortage in manpower due to exit of staff for reasons over the years.”