I was sacked for refusal to give Education minister kickbacks, says ex-TETfund boss

The Ministry of Education later issued a statement confirming President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of the reinstatement of Bogoro as TETFund boss. The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, according to the statement, said the re-instatement of Mr Bogoro is with immediate effect, with the same terms and conditions as it were in his previous appointment and as stipulated in the TETFUND staff conditions of service. But in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday night, Mr Bichi said he was sacked for his refusal to give bribe to the minister of Education not insubordination, inaccessibility and speaking to the press without authorisation. “On Friday night, I was informed at the Presidential Villa that Minister of Education came with a letter reporting me to the president. “This is not the first time Adamu Adamu reported me to the president, requesting my sack but the president stood his ground and refuse to sack me,” he told the BBC. When the interviewer asked him about the authenticity of his source, Mr Bichi said he was certain the information was accurate. “My source is reliable. On Saturday night, I was reliably informed that I would be removed. “I asked what was my offence? They alleged that the offences were inaccessibility, insubordination and speaking to the press without the minister’s authorisation. “Allegation of inaccessibility is unfounded as the minister knows that I spend more time in the ministry as his technical aide than in my TETfund office. “I do not regret my refusal to obey the minister’s directives because I cannot sabotage my country. “Go and ask the minister. Eight months ago, Mallam Adamu Adamu sent one of his biggest contractors to tell me that the minister was angry with me for three reasons. “The third issue is that TETffund disbursed over N200 billion to universities without remitting the percent kickback, amounting to at least N20 billion at 10 percent rate. “The fact is that since I started this job, I have never demanded a single kobo from any university. If any university shows proof of collecting kickback from them, let death sentence be passed on me,” he added.]]>