Some staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), in Kaduna State, have petitioned the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), seeking that the Acting Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC)-cum-Administrative Secretary of the Commission in the State, Mohammed Awwal Mashi, be investigated.
The petitioners, under the umbrella of “2020 promoted staff of INEC Kaduna State”, alleged that Mashi was favoured by the INEC National Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to become the REC and preside over the 2023 general election in the state even though he lacks the necessary qualifications.
They further accused Mashi of looting money budgeted for staff welfare, including allowances meant for ad-hoc staff worth over three hundred million naira, and $100 released by the APC for each staff of INEC after the presidential election.
The aggrieved INEC staff while also alleging that they received underpayment of their promotion arrears on August 4, 2023, called on the EFCC to conduct a thorough investigation and necessary actions.
They further alleged that some days after the 2023 presidential elections, the ruling party gave all staff of the state $100 dollars each but, only ICT staff were giving the money, and denied the rest of the staff.
They also alleged that the acting REC/Administrative Secretary Mohammed Awwal Mashi is a friend and a University Course mate to Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and also a close friend and ally to the Chief of Staff to the Chairman of the Commission, Bashir Wase.
The petition, dated August 8, 2023 read in part: “On 4th August 2023, promotion arrears were credited to our account with huge discrepancies. Grade level-10 Step-6 in Kaduna State got N34, 000, which is the same grade level and step in the FCT, which got N163, 000… This is evident that we have been deliberately underpaid with step 3 instead of step 6. Concerted effort were made to correct the fraudulent act but suffered a heavy backlash by the management”.
