…Debunks Allegations Of Misconduct Levelled Against Her
Abuja (Precise Post) – The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) yesterday said it has expunged more than 40,000 dormant, inactive firms from its books in the last two year.
Acting Registrar-General of the commission, Lady Azuka Azinge, confirmed this in Abuja.
She said the process of reviewing the list of dormant firms in CAC’s books was an on-going process, hinting that that process would be sustained and reviewed from time to time.
The acting registrar-general said it costs the commission N1 billion to completely clear the nine per cent salary increment arrears that arose from a tripartite agreement between the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, CAC and the union, which was a major cause of perennial and industrial unrest before she assumed office two years ago.
Azinge, currently in acting capacity as registrar-general of CAC since 2017, had come under intense criticism recently on allegations of misconduct.
Some of the allegations stacked against her included taking full remuneration of substantive registrar-general of CAC while functioning in acting capacity, a development her critics said contravened the rule of the civil service.
Addressing the media on burning issues, Azinge said she was still earning the salary of a director as acting registrar-general.
“By a letter No; T/FAL/233119/S/302117, dated 28th September, 2017, issued by FMITI and signed by O. Ogenyi (Ag. Permanent Secretary for the Honourable Minister), Lady Azuka Azinge was appointed as Acting Registrar-General with effect from 9th October, 2017. The post of Acting Registrar-General qualifies her as an Officer of the Commission within the meaning of Rule 6. 06 of the commission’s conditions of service to earn acting allowance if she acts at a higher position for 30 or more days.
It was based on the belief that the Acting registrar-general is an officer of the commission that the board on the 8th & 9th February, 2019 considered and approved payment of acting allowance to her.”
The board’s decision was informed by the fact that Rule 6. 06 mentioned above did not provide details as to what constitutes acting allowance.
As a matter of fact, the board at its 74th meeting approved the acting allowances only, which excludes salary.
Consequently, the Acting registrar-general still earns the salary of a director,” she emphasized.
On allegation that she hired contract staff without following laid down rule, she defended her action.
“The offer of contract appointment to Mr. Anthony Udegbe, was made pursuant to Rule 3.05(d) of the Commission’s Conditions of Service, which provides for such appointment. It was duly approved by the Commission’s Board as required by clause 3.02 of the Conditions of Service. It is difficult to ascribe bias to a collective decision of the board with membership drawn from different parts of the country
