FG retires suspended NIPSS DG, director

The Presidency has retired the suspended acting Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Dr. Yakubu Sankey.

Also retired along with Sankey is an Assistant Director in the Research Department, Mr. Deinbo Briggs.

Though no reasons were given for their retirements, a one-paragraph letter from the office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, said that President Umaru Yar’Adua had approved the retirements.

The letter reads, “The President, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, has approved your retirement effective from the date of this letter.” It was dated January 22.

However, a source at NIPSS told our correspondent that the action raised eye brows at the Presidency as some officials questioned the timing of the action, especially as it was coming barely 24 hours after the Vice-President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, took charge after Yar’Adua proceeded on a two-week vacation.

Sankey had engaged Jonathan in a war of wits over his handling of an alleged theft case involving Briggs.

Sankey’s retirement is also raising apprehension over the fate of the acting DG, Mr. James Opadiran, and the assistant directors whose tenure had long expired. Intense lobbying is said to be going on to have their tenure extended.

Briggs, a participant in Course 30 of NIPSS, was alleged to have stolen a camera belonging to a fellow participant while they were on a study tour of China.

Sankey had set up an administrative panel which found Briggs guilty and subsequently suspended him from duty and withdrew him from the course.

But the vice-president, whose office oversees the affairs of NIPSS, reversed the decision following a petition by Briggs.

Jonathan’s action drew the ire of Sankey, who accused him of undermining his authority.

The vice-president, who felt humiliated, suspended Sankey.

He subsequently set up a committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation between his office and Sankey.

The report of the committee is yet to be made public.

Source: Punch newspaper