I Was Forced To Resign At Minting Company — Adesoji Ogungbesan

The immediate past acting Executive Director, Corporate Services, of the Nigerian Security Printing & Minting Company (NSPM), Mr Adesoji Ogungbesan, has said he was forced to resign from his position.

Speaking to journalists Wednesday, Ogungbesan said he was asked to tender his letter of resignation without a board decision; he complied and obtained a copy of the acceptance.

He dismissed allegations about his recruitment, performance and departure from the organisation.

He said he committed no misconduct and did not approve the N89 million pest‑control contract attributed to him in media reports.

Ogungbesan, who said this would be his only public statement on the matter, described as false the claims published by an online news platform that he was unqualified for the role and had performed poorly.

He also denied initiating the supposed N89 million pest‑control contract at the company’s Lagos facility, stating that the actual contract sum was N11.5 million for bait stations, fumigation and other pest‑control services covering two office buildings and the factory.

“There were no criminal infractions, gross abuse of office or breaches of laid‑down principles,” Ogungbesan said, adding that the online reports have left him repeatedly having to rebut what he called “permanently available falsehoods”.

He disclosed that he was recruited from the private sector in February 2024 after being approached by a former colleague and initially turned down the offer several times because the remuneration was less than half of what he was then earning and would require him to maintain two households.

He said he eventually accepted because he felt he had reached the peak of his previous role and was seeking new challenges.

Ogungbesan said his appointment followed an interview process that involved two Deputy Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria and NSPM management.

He joined as General Manager, Management Services, and was appointed acting Executive Director, Corporate Services, five months later.

During his tenure he carried out a one‑month diagnostic review and worked closely with PwC on a board‑driven organisational review, incorporating its recommendations into an implementation roadmap focused on tracking and measuring operational performance, establishing best practice and ensuring efficiency in core activities.

He said reforms introduced under his watch substantially reduced overtime costs, lowered leave liabilities, rationalised data‑centre licences with annual savings exceeding ₦200 million, and automated performance‑management processes that generated about ₦100 million in efficiencies.

He also said he oversaw the full implementation of Sage ERP across supply‑chain, finance and internal workflows, optimised the workforce with a 25 per cent headcount reduction, and introduced structured cross‑functional routines to improve integration and decision‑making.

Reflecting on his experience, Ogungbesan said reputation in public service is vulnerable to online attacks and petitions, particularly for professionals transitioning from the private sector where credibility is a core asset.

He argued that performance alone does not guarantee protection, asserting that without political backing even measurable results can be rendered inconsequential.

“Without a principal or political backing, you are a sitting duck. Your actual results are inconsequential. The only real protection is who is behind you,” he said.

He lamented what he described as the growing politicisation of senior positions and resistance to objective measurement of performance.

“Data is the enemy. No one wants to be measured. Plans and proposals are developed with no mechanism to objectively assess what has actually been achieved,” he said, adding that urgency in the system often arises only when blame is to be apportioned.

On the first working day of February 2026, he said, he was informed by the acting Managing Director that the board had decided to conduct a management sweep and that he would be required to leave immediately.

He said he resigned as requested and that the acceptance of his resignation was duly documented.

Although his time in public service ended abruptly, Ogungbesan said he did not regret taking up the challenge, noting he entered the system believing well‑intentioned professionals could drive change but left with a clearer understanding of the structural and political forces confronting reform efforts.

He wished his former colleagues well and expressed hope that the company would achieve its full potential, even as his statement is likely to reignite debate over governance, accountability and the role of technocrats in strategic public institutions.