The embattled Nigerian Communications Commissions' Executive Commissioner in charge of the Engineering and Technology
Standards Dr. Bashir Gwandu has been sacked by the Federal Government .
According to a report from the office of the Director, Public Affairs for NCC,
Mr. Tony Ojobo, the commission received a
letter yesterday signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation
(SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, relieving Gwandu of his appointment effective November 9, 2012.
According to Ojobo, Gwandu was sacked
for a proven case of gross insubordination to the current leadership of NCC.
“The board of NCC and the Ministry of
Communications Technology investigated the allegations brought against NCC's
leadership by Gwandu and found that they were false and unfounded and also
discovered overwhelming insubordination by Gwandu,” Ojobo said.
He said Gwandu had alleged that the
NCC sold the 450 MHz frequency band allegedly belonging to the police, to
OpenSkys Limited, inspite of the commission’s explanation that it undertook the
sale following laid down rules and due process.
NCC said the sale was not only in
compliance with the Nigerian Communications Act, but also in full
implementation of a presidential directive of July 5, 2007, but Gwandu had
granted press interviews alleging double standards on the part of NCC, thereby
discrediting the leadership of the NCC before the public.
Based on Gwandu’s allegations, the
Ministry of Police Affairs had accused NCC of re-selling the spectrum to
OpenSkys Limited, after it had been sold to the police, alleging that the
re-sale had hindered the police commission from rolling out its security-based
communications network.
Although the allegations were
embarrassing for the NCC, the commission was unable to take any action against
Gwandu, because it was investigating the allegations.
According to an inside source, Gwandu's grouse may not be unconnected with his long held desire to be appointed executive-vice chairman (EVC) of the NCC, a position he lost about two years ago when its former EVC, Ernest Ndukwe, stepped down.
Immediately after Ndukwe retired in
2010, Gwuandu was made acting EVC, but was replaced by a substantive EVC, Mr.
Eugene Juwah.
Ever since then, Gwandu has not
concealed his desire to displace Juwah.