Saratu Umar fired as NIPC boss again

President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked Saratu Umar, executive secretary of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC).

Femi Adesina, presidential spokesperson, announced the development in a statement on Thursday.

This is the second time that Umar would be fired from the same position.

Umar was first appointed to the position in July 2014, but was sacked by former President Goodluck Jonathan in May 2015 over alleged unethical practices.

TheCable had reported that Umar was fired for allegedly leaking information on the granting of questionable tax waivers estimated to be worth $20 billion.

Her dismissal had come exactly eight days after a nine-month-old letter on the controversial waivers was leaked to the media — and six days after the NIPC staff union petitioned the president to ask for her removal.

But in July 2022, she was reappointed for a fresh term of five years by Buhari. 

Adesina said the most senior director in the commission has been appointed as Umar’s replacement in the interim. 

“President Muhammadu Buhari has terminated the appointment of Hajiya Saratu Umar as the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), with immediate effect,” the statement reads.

“In a directive to the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo CON, the President also mandated the most senior Director in the Commission to immediately take over in the interim.”

No reason was given for Umar’s dismissal.