Professor Charles Uwakwe has been relieved of his position as the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the National Examinations Council (NECO). In his stead, Professor Abubakar Gana was appointed as the institution’s acting registrar.
Four other members of the examination body’s management committee were also given the boot.
The four were booted out for various offences including alleged financial impropriety in a separate letter.
Uwakwe’s sack, according to a letter signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Sonny Echono, on behalf of the Minister of Education, Mmr. Adamu Adamu, was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“After due consideration of the investigative panel on the allegation of unsatisfactory conduct levelled against you and some management staff of the council, Mr. President in exercise of his powers, has approved your removal as the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of National Examinations Council with effect from the date of your suspension from duty,” Mr. Echono said in the letter.
The sack of the five came two years after an investigative panel was constituted to probe allegations of unsatisfactory conduct.
In May, 2018, the Federal Government suspended Uwakwe over alleged financial mismanagement and abuse of office in awarding contracts worth N25 billion without following the due process.
Specifically, the former registrar was accused of violating the Public Procurement Act (2007) and pursuant to PSR 030402 and Part 1 schedule 4 (i) of NECO Establishment Act.
He has been directed to hand over all government properties in his custody to the Acting Registrar of the Council.
NECO confirmed the dismissals in a press statement on Wednesday.