Unidentified
persons at the weekend again burgled the Federal Ministry of Interior for the
third time in a row, carting away undisclosed items.
Despite this
ugly trend, the ministry had reduced the number of security personnel assigned
to protect the ministry by half over unpaid allowances.
It was learnt that the ministry, in August and September, 2013, was burgled twice in eight days, leaving the minister’s and the permanent secretary’s offices most violated.
It was learnt that the ministry, in August and September, 2013, was burgled twice in eight days, leaving the minister’s and the permanent secretary’s offices most violated.
The burglars
were said to have targeted the office of the personal assistant to the minister
on Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in search of documents,
which our sources attributed to the “ongoing subversive plot against the
Minister, Comrade Abba Moro.”
Other
offices burgled at the weekend were federal audit, press office, protocol
office, special duties, director of press, personal assistant to the minister
and had a fail attempt at office of special assistant and technical
respectively.
A reliable source who did not want her name in print blamed the recent trend at the ministry on the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Fatimat Bamidele, who it was gathered was hell bent in reducing the numbers of security personnel guarding the ministry by 50 per cent, immediately she assumed office.
A reliable source who did not want her name in print blamed the recent trend at the ministry on the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Fatimat Bamidele, who it was gathered was hell bent in reducing the numbers of security personnel guarding the ministry by 50 per cent, immediately she assumed office.
The source
said Bamidele had complained of paucity of funds to pay the personnel’s
allowances, saying: “There has not been value for money paying the officers and
that the number on ground has proven to be an unwieldy and ineffective crowd.”
Before the
reduction, 88 security officers with a total monthly allowance of N362, 500
were being owed 14-month salary in total sum of N4, 760, 000.
Documents reliably obtained by our correspondent has shown a vehemently disagreement with the permanent secretary over the reduction of operatives of NSCDC because of allowances which was attributed to privilege and not a right.
The reduction move, in a documents signed by Bamidele, with reference number NSCDC/FMI/5046/VII/803, quoted the Commandant General of NSCDC to have recommended the reduction of operatives and replacement with armed guards and sniffer dogs.
Documents reliably obtained by our correspondent has shown a vehemently disagreement with the permanent secretary over the reduction of operatives of NSCDC because of allowances which was attributed to privilege and not a right.
The reduction move, in a documents signed by Bamidele, with reference number NSCDC/FMI/5046/VII/803, quoted the Commandant General of NSCDC to have recommended the reduction of operatives and replacement with armed guards and sniffer dogs.
When
contacted for comment, the Deputy Director of Press in the ministry, Mr. Edwin
Opara, denied any knowledge of the happenings, saying: “I am not aware of
whatever you are asking me and I can’t comment on it.”
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