A staff member of the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, has petitioned the Executive Director of the Institute, Dr. Mohammed Ndagi Ishaq, over alleged gross misconduct, abuse of civil service rules, and maladministration.

The petitioner, Mohammed Tswayan, in his petition dated 6th January 2025 and made available to newsmen in Minna, Niger State capital, accused the Executive Director of arbitrary disrespect for civil service rules and regulations.

Tswayan, an Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Pension Unit of NCRI, also petitioned the Executive Officer, Head of Confidential Secretariat, Mr. Kawu Danjuma Sambo, who was indicted for certificate forgery by the institute’s anti-corruption committee.

Tswayan urged relevant authorities to conduct an in-depth investigation and ensure justice on the allegations he raised.

The petitioner expressed dismay over the gross impunity allegedly exhibited by the current Executive Director, in contravention of civil service rules and regulations.

He questioned the appointment of the current NCRI boss without presidential approval, adding that other agencies under the ministry that participated in the same interview at NCRI Badeggi are still waiting for presidential approval.

Tswayan appealed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to question the Minister of Agriculture about how Ndagi-Ishaq allegedly emerged through the back door as the NCRI Executive Director.

He also urged concerned stakeholders to ensure the removal of the chief executive to pave the way for a more focused, competent, incorruptible, and integrity-driven individual who would improve the fortunes of the institute.

He emphasized that the NCRI boss had ignored the report and recommendations of the internal ICPC committee, which found Kawu Danjuma Sambo guilty of alleged certificate forgery, earlier confirmed by the institution he claimed to have graduated from.

The petitioner recalled that Ndagi-Ishaq directed the accused (Danjuma Sambo), a Grade Level 12 officer, to query a Grade Level 17 officer, which contravenes civil service rules and is punishable by dismissal.

He further revealed that the eight-year tenure policy for directors also disqualified Ndagi-Ishaq from being appointed as the Executive Director of NCRI.

The petition was copied to the ICPC headquarters in Minna and Abuja, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Agricultural Council of Nigeria, the ICPC Committee of NCRI, all labor unions in the institute, and the media.

Responding to the petition, the Executive Director of the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, Dr. Mohammed Ndagi Ishaq, refuted the allegations, stating that the petitioner is known for fictitious accusations. He added that a committee is already in place by the management to address the petitioner’s excesses, with the submission of a report and recommendations forthcoming.

Dr. Ishaq noted that he took over on August 1, 2024, and did not receive any ICPC committee report in his handover note, dismissing the allegations as baseless and unfounded. He emphasized that his appointment was by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria.

Also speaking, the Executive Officer, Head of Confidential Secretariat, Mr. Kawu Danjuma Sambo, denied the allegation of certificate forgery, claiming he was being blackmailed because of his commitment to doing the right thing in the administrative system.

He stated that no committee indicted him and that the institution he graduated from is available for verification, even online. He also noted that he had been stagnated for ten years, while those involved in the allegations are due for retirement but have refused to leave the service.

Meanwhile, Dr. Oyekazi, of the NCRI Committee on ICPC, confirmed the existence of the committee but declined to comment further, stating that he is only answerable to the management of NCRI and the ICPC in Minna. (The Guardian, excluding headline)