The Coalition of the Nigeria Union of Public Service Reportorial, Secretarial, Data Processors and Allied Workers (NUPSRAW) and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria Research Institutes and Allied Institutions (ASURI) at the National Library of Nigeria (NLN) has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of refusing to prosecute the National Librarian and Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria, Prof. Chinwe Anunobi, despite evidence of corruption uncovered during investigations.
The unions stated that for more than two and a half years, several petitions submitted to the anti-graft agency and the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) over alleged corruption, abuse of office, illegal sales of government properties, recruitment fraud and financial mismanagement running into billions of naira have remained unresolved.
Speaking with SaharaReporters, Comrade Odufuwa S.O, Chairman of NUPSRAW, alongside Comrade Adepoju S., Chairperson of ASURI, accused the ICPC of deliberately suppressing corruption allegations involving the apex library’s management.
According to the unions, one of the latest petitions before the ICPC involves the alleged illegal sale of government properties by the management of the National Library of Nigeria without due process and without approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
The unions noted that proceeds from the sales were traced to personal accounts during investigations by the ICPC.
The unions said, “As a follow-up to an earlier story on corruption allegations in the apex library, we are yet to get a response from the management of NLN, the supervisory ministry FME or the ICPC who have been treating series of petitions from the institution’s in-house unions for two and half years without conclusion.
“The most recent of the petitions anchors on sales of government properties without due process, with proceeds traced to personal accounts by ICPC.
“The anti-graft agency, in its recent investigation, equipped with all evidences substantiating the unions’ claims, have been grilling the members of staff directly linked to the fraudulent sales, but the CEO, who is at the center of the allegations is yet to be invited.”
The unions further alleged that the same contractor and individual were used repeatedly to purchase allegedly functional government vehicles and generators from the National Library.
According to them, the repeated use of one contractor has raised concerns about transparency and legality.
“Furtherance to our earlier report on stealing of government properties, which is currently being investigated by ICPC, we were reliably informed that it is the same company and person that was used to buy off vehicles and generators.
“This has raised more doubt on the transparency and legality of the entire process,” the union leaders stated.
The labour groups also accused the management of the National Library of Nigeria of misappropriating and mismanaging more than N10 billion in public funds within five years through fraudulent procurement practices.
They alleged that since 2023, they have repeatedly reported cases involving contract inflation, non-execution of projects, poor execution of contracts and violations of procurement procedures to the Federal Ministry of Education and the ICPC.
According to them, despite providing documentary evidence, no decisive action has been taken against the management.
The unions also questioned the recent reappointment of Prof. Anunobi for another five-year tenure as National Librarian despite pending corruption allegations before the ICPC.
According to them, the renewal of her appointment five months before the expiration of her first tenure amounted to a “reward for corruption.”
They disclosed that petitions questioning the reappointment process had already been forwarded to the Office of the President, Office of the First Lady, Federal Ministry of Education, National Assembly committees on Secondary Education and Anti-Corruption, among other agencies.
The unions further accused the ICPC of continuing to suppress corruption allegations against Prof. Anunobi, especially in relation to the alleged illegal sales of government assets.
“We further report that this act of suppression has continued, especially with the recent allegations of illegal sales of government properties, without BPP approval and with funds traced to personal accounts,” they said.
“This is because the head of management that approved the illegal act is yet to be invited for questioning, despite the management investigation committee report with the ICPC which flags these irregular sales.”
On recruitment practices, the unions accused Prof. Anunobi of abusing her office by recruiting workers into non-existent cadres in violation of public service regulations and approved establishment structures.
According to the unions, the recruitment exercises carried out under her leadership allegedly violated waiver conditions and recruitment guidelines.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Scheme of Service is a reference document in the public service that specifies the duty of each post, method of entry, including the qualifications and prerequisite for advancement within and beyond cadre,” the unions said.
“The establishment positions which refer to the post approved and provided for under the personnel emolument sub-head of the organization was flouted by recruiting into unestablished posts.
“The IPPIS flagged the last exercise conducted having violated the waiver conditions, the management in their usual manner then ordered that the system be circumvented by redesignating the candidates into non-existing cadres in the establishment positions approved for the organization, such as Librarian in Training.”
The unions also alleged that employment opportunities at the National Library of Nigeria have been commercialised, with job seekers reportedly paying as much as N2 million for vacancies.
According to them, an aide to the CEO was once apprehended by aggrieved applicants who allegedly paid money for jobs but were not employed.
“Jobs were sold for up to N2 million per vacancy since her assumption of office till date. An arrest of S.A to the CEO was effected by aggrieved customers who paid, but did not get the job,” they alleged.
The labour unions further accused the management of violating the Federal Character principle in three consecutive recruitment exercises conducted since 2024.
They alleged that the recruitments disproportionately favoured one region of the country while excluding others in violation of federal regulations.
“All the three consecutive recruitments conducted by the management since 2024 were lopsided, leaving out sections of the country, while filling vacancies with candidates from a particular region in gross violation of the Federal Character Code,” the unions alleged.
The unions also accused Prof. Anunobi of running the National Library of Nigeria in an autocratic manner and disregarding the Public Service Rules (PSR).
They cited cases where senior officers were made to report to junior officers, punitive postings of union executives to places like Maiduguri and Calabar, threats to deny promotions to perceived opponents, and alleged victimisation of directors who demanded working tools for staff members.
“Poor administrative style, with absolute disregard to provisions of the Public Service Rules.
“Senior being supervised by junior officer for about two years now, with the punitive posting of union executive to Calabar as one of the evidence.
“Assistant director is supervised by Assistant Chief in the Federal Civil Service.
“Punitive posting of perceived enemies of the CEO. Posting of union executive to Maiduguri.
“Threats to deny promotion to perceived enemies of the CEO,” they alleged.
The unions called on the ICPC, Federal Ministry of Education, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and the Presidency to intervene and ensure a thorough investigation and prosecution of all corruption allegations involving the National Library management.
They also questioned the handling of the case by relevant authorities, asking why investigations into corruption allegations had remained inconclusive for over two years, who approved the second term appointment of the National Librarian without security clearance, and whether the National Library still operates as a public institution under the Public Service Rules.
The unions further questioned the supervisory structure of the institution and its level of autonomy, insisting that accountability mechanisms appear unclear.
They urged the authorities to act swiftly, warning that continued silence would undermine confidence in public institutions and governance.
The call comes amid reports that the ICPC has yet to file charges against the National Librarian, despite allegedly concluding an investigation that reportedly found evidence of corruption, contract inflation, and abuse of office.
Sources familiar with the matter allege that although the investigation was completed, prosecution was stalled due to internal interference and compromise within the agency.
It was further alleged that a senior official within the ICPC influenced the outcome by recommending a recovery-based settlement rather than prosecution, including a proposed financial resolution instead of legal action.
According to insiders, the decision not to prosecute has emboldened continued alleged financial mismanagement within the National Library.
Despite multiple petitions to government agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Education, no decisive disciplinary action has reportedly been taken so far.