The Corporate Affairs Commission, (CAC), has debunked a series of online publications in respect of several allegations leveled against it by its former staff union, AUPCTRE, over an alleged N6.5bn fraud, which the union claimed the CAC staff and the NLC were tackling against its Registrar-General/CEO, Garba Abubakar.
Picture caption: CAC Registrar-General, Alhaji Garba Abubakar
The CAC, in an issued press statement, signed by its Director, Public Affairs, Duke Ukaga, said the online article is a figment of the imagination of its sponsors.
According to the CAC, “the write-up is a cheap blackmail and a figment of the writer’s imagination”, saying it smacks of mischief and an attempt to ridicule the Registrar-General and the Commission.
Part of the statement stated: “The allegations are a figment of the imagination of AUPCTRE, who could still not accept the reality of losing check-up dues of over N2 million monthly from the Commission following the stoppage of such deduction in respect of senior staffx.
To set the records straight, the Commission responded itemwise to all the allegations in respect of Shortchanging staff allowances and entitlements; Stoppage of staff loans and all welfare proposals; Doubts about its Regr-Gen’s Code of Conduct declaration; Staff victimisation/transfer; Abuse of power, financial impropriety and commercialisation of promotion examination in the Commission; Inflation of consultancy fees for tax reconciliation, amongst other unfounded allegations.
It further explained that the Commission would not have bothered to respond to the allegations but for the blatant falsehood demonstrated but that for the avoidance of doubt.
It stated further: “The General public may also wish to note that by the decision of the National Industrial Court, (NIC), the Courts have ruled that AUPCTRE is a Junior Staff Union, adding that the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment had long before the judgment advised the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, (SON), of that position, which reaffirmed the NIC 2019 judgment to the effect that AUPCTRE cannot unionize senior staff in Public/Statutory Corporations”.
The Commission emphasised that it will not be distracted by mischief-makers who are bent on running it down, adding that the CAC will continue to work hard to achieve the objectives for which it was established to the satisfaction of its customers and stakeholders.
“The CAC is fully committed to the Buhari administration’s anti-corruption war and will not in any way be a party to corrupt practices”, it stated.
