The National Metallurgical Development Centre (NMDC) management has issued queries to two staff members, accusing them of “publicising and sharing official documents” on social/print media (Daily Nigerian Online edition).
The queries were signed by Michael S. Sesere, Senior Admin Officer, on behalf of the Director General.
In a letter dated 1st September 2025 and addressed to Abdullahi Yaro Zakariyya of the Engineering Services Department, with the subject: “Query on unauthorised publication of official documents,” it read in part:
“I am directed to issue you a query to explain your reason(s) for publicising and sharing official documents on social/print media, (Daily Nigeria Online Edition), specifically on the JORAISU-NMDC Jos WhatsApp Platform, on Tuesday, 19th August, 2025.”
“This act is considered a breach of Public Service Rules (PSR) 100415, 100416, 100417 and other relevant provisions, which prohibit the unauthorised disclosure of official information/documents.”
“Accordingly, you are hereby required to explain in writing, within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of this query, why disciplinary action should not be taken against you in line with the provisions of the Public Service Rules (PSR).”
“Please note that failure to respond within the stipulated period will be deemed as unwillingness to offer any explanation, and appropriate sanctions will be applied against you in accordance with the Public Service Rules.”
A letter with the same content was also sent to Abbey J. Ameh, also in the Engineering Department of the Centre.
Sources familiar with the development told SaharaReporters that the Centre’s Director General, angered by a Daily Nigerian report which exposed corruption, has gone on to accuse different persons of being behind the documents’ leakage.
“The offence of these two persons victimised is that when they saw the news article, they shared it on the WhatsApp platform of the Centre and after that they were accused of being the one that released the documents.”
SaharaReporters understands that more staff of the agency are being targeted, all in a bid to unravel the source of the Daily Nigerian report.
“There are many more staff that are being targeted by the management.”
The report published by Daily Nigerian exposed corruption and mismanagement in the Centre.
“At exactly 11:58am on Monday January 20, 2025 the gates of the National Metallurgical Development Centre, NMDC, Jos, swung open, ushering me into an institution meant to stand as Nigeria’s beacon of research and innovation in metallurgy, but now suffocating under the weight of mismanagement, scandal, and corruption,” an account by the author of the report read in part.
The report further alleged that “exclusive documents obtained by Daily Nigerian revealed that on 25th March 2019, a total sum of N148,500,000 was approved by the Director General of NMDC, Professor Linus Asuquo for the procurement of an X-ray Fluorescence spectrometer (XRF) machine and paid for from capital vote, an amount above his approval limit according to the Procurement Act, 2007.”
“The award letter was also signed by the DG against same procurement act regulations. The same equipment was also awarded, signed by the DG and paid for from the intervention funds on 4th May 2020 through remita payment batch 137 via three transactions,” it further read.
It was also noted that “the XRF machine is an analytical device used to determine the elemental composition of materials. It is widely used in mining, metallurgy, environmental science, and quality control industries.”
“Findings reveal that this machine, a critical component of NMDC’s operation has been used to siphon the total sum of N329,671,738.00 through contracts awarded to MIS Software Nigeria Limited.”
It was further reported that “an award letter for the ‘Supply, Installation, Training and Commissioning of Energy Dispersive X-Ray Flourescence Spectrometer (EDXRF) and Accessories,’ exclusively obtained by DAILY NIGERIAN, dated March 14, 2019 and personally signed by the DG NMDC in contravention of procurement laws, did not make any specification of the type of XRF machine meant to be supplied by the contractor, MIS Software Nigeria Limited.”
“Notwithstanding, a job completion certificate with REF No NMDC/TECH/397/1 issued to the contractor and signed by one J.J. Musa on 25th March 2019, also did not specify the model of equipment supplied. It carried certificate completion number JCC-0001-NMDC-C-347, commencement date 8th March 2019 and completion date 25th March 2019.”
According to the Daily Nigerian publication, “notwithstanding, a job completion certificate with REF No NMDC/TECH/397/1 issued to the contractor and signed by one J.J. Musa on 25th March 2019, also did not specify the model of equipment supplied.”
“It carried certificate completion number JCC-0001-NMDC-C-347, commencement date 8th March 2019 and completion date 25th March 2019.”
It was further reported that the completion dates correspond with the initial payment of the total sum of N148,500,000 on remita and GIFMIS. However, a careful look at the date of commencement on the job certificate and the date on the award letter reveals that the job completion itself predated the contract award.
Documents reveal that the Director-General (DG) of NMDC exceeded his approval limits, unilaterally awarding and signing off contracts in apparent violation of procurement laws — many of which have since raised serious questions.