Disengage Public Officers Honourably, ECCIMA Tells FG

The President, Enugu Chamber of Commerce Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) , Mr Okey Nwadinobi, has canvassed for a more honourable way of relieving public officers of their appointments. 

Reacting to the removal of Prof. Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke as Director-General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Nwadinobi said he was aware that the lady had been served a notice of retirement. 

“It has been an issue of succession. But beyond that, I must say she has done her part. She played prominent role in the growth and development of the NSE. 

“It is therefore, time to go, but in going there should be a dignified manner of relieving her of the appointment. 

“Onyiuke is somebody to be celebrated because she has no doubt played her part well,’’ Nwadinobi said. 

He noted that her departure should have been a quiet one, noting that it was sad that the system in most cases capitalised on minor slips to bring down the hammer. 

“This should not be the approach in resolving issues of this nature as it does not augur well for development of NSE as there were guidelines for engaging and removing  officers,’’ the ECCIMA boss said. 

Nwadinobi added that since there were some allegations before her removal, the proper thing to do could have been to send her on compulsory leave, then set up a panel to determine the veracity of the allegations and provide her ample opportunity to defend herself. 

Okereke-Onyiuke was removed on Wednesday night. 

Sources close to the capital market said that the removal was contained in a letter signed by the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms Aruma Oteh. 

The letter of her removal it was learnt, was delivered at her residence in Lagos by four security operatives at about 7 p.m. on Wednesday. 

Okereke-Onyiuke had been engaged in a battle of wits with the President of the NSE, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, over the health of the Exchange. 

Dangote claimed that the NSE was on the verge of bankruptcy, the NSE director general insisted that its accounts were not in the red.