Umar Bamalli, DG, Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences In N32.8 Million Promotion Fund Fraud And Forgery Scandal

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Yakubu Busari

Engr-BamalliIn its website, the vision of the Nigerian Institutes of Mining and Geosciences, NIMG reads thus; “To be among the world’s best in manpower training and research in minerals development,” while its mission read thus; “To be an international centre of excellence in the training of manpower and the conduct of research in the exploration and exploitation of minerals for national development.”

The Research institute’s objectives also stated thus; “To produce a new class of highly trained and professionalized mining engineers and geoscientists with practical exposure and technical skills required to prepare them adequately for the new developments in Nigeria’s Mining Industry. To provide practical laboratory and field exposures to University Lecturers and Postgraduate students in Mining and Geosciences and to conduct focused need-driven research in Mining and Geosciences.”

However, as it stand it seems that both the objectives, vision and mission of the institute has been relegated to the background as abuse of office, highhandedness, fraud has become the order of the day in the institute.

As it is the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institute and Allied Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), NIMG chapter has accused Director of General of the institute Dr Umar Sedu Bamalli of money laundering.

According to the Union, they stated the DG has conducted illegal recruitments that never followed due process, as there were also no newspaper vacancies announced, more so, the Director General was also accused of forgery of  signatures of nonexistent Ministers.

In a petition dated 21st April, 2015, it stated that after the congress of Jos branch and the second congress on 2nd July, 2015 copied the management and the Federal government of the fraud going in the research institute under the current Director General.

According to a press statement signed by the association Chairman ,Comrade Ogunsanya Ralph he said two experienced teaching staff of the institute who came on transfer of service from National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe ,Kogi state were rejected as illegal by Director General.

Ralph pointed that the Director General also embezzled the sum of N32, 888,326.00 meant for payment of arrears of staffs that has undergone promotion. The money for the arrears with AIE NO: AOI-00002583 was approved on the 31st Oct, 2014 by office of the Accountant General of the Federal and was received on the 20th March, 2015, but that up till today there has not been anything given to the staffs.

As learnt by this medium, the staffs have been denied by the institute their right to form and belong to legitimate union.

He added further that SSAUTHRIAI condemned the act of nepotism over the recruitment of staff from northern part of the country which majority of them came from Katsina and Kaduna states respectively. They also lamented the non confirmation of staffs after spending 5 to 6 years in service under the present Director General which the Union said is a call, for concern; “we have not been promoted and even arrears released for the promotion is being taken by the management.

According to him, there has been the stoppage of salary of some of staff targeted to be suspected ring leaders, as he said it is unnecessary.The Director General was also accused of deployment of staffs of the institute who were transferred to the organisation; the DG was accused of promoting religious bigotry.

However, in the spirit of financial prudence, accountability and transparency, the association chairman demanded the funds to be returned to management to upset staffs promotion allowances.

The Union is disturbed by these postings leading to abysmal performance in the running of the institute while very competent and capable professionals are rendered idle and redundant, he explained.

When our reporter contacted he Director General Dr Umar Sedu Bamalli on phone he declined comment as he said that as a civil servant he is not allowed to speak to Journalists unless he receives authority from above.

2 Comments
  1. gayralph says

    U omo shit make u go& hug transformer or commit suicide as u wish. Wia una dey wen d former provost was busy making d place Odudua republic, una neva talk. Igbos don talk am say u b hipocrits&betrayals.

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