Senate Ex-Chief Whip Cautions President On FIRS Chief’s Removal

FORMER Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Rowland Owie, has advised President Goodluck Jonathan to be wary of alleged subterranean moves by those he referred to as “palace jesters” to effect the removal of Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru without recourse to due process.

Reacting to a newspaper report (Not The Guardian) yesterday which he said was to misinform the President and Nigerians as regards the tenure of the FIRS chairman, Owie said the Act establishing the Revenue Board specified four years as tenure of the Board chairman.

He said Okauru’s appointment was confirmed by the Senate in 2008 and therefore her tenure would expire in 2012 adding that “it would now be wrong for anyone to contemplate cutting her tenure short due to political interest.”

Owie said: “I wish to advise Mr. President not to listen to palace jesters in the running of the affairs of the nation. I plead with him to carefully look at the Federal Inland Revenue Service Establishment Act 2007, especially section 3 sub Section 1 and 2. The Act states clearly that the tenure of the chairman shall be for four years.

“Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui Okauru’s appointment was confirmed by the Senate in April 2008 and by law, her appointment has to expire in 2012. I pray the risen Christ to send His spirit to guide Mr. President and allow the rule of law to be his guiding light in this and other issues that will come his way in the course of his Presidency.”