Stormont spin doctor removed from role by Civil Service chief Jayne Brady
First reported by the News Letter, it is believed that Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly wanted Mr McNabb to be reinstated, but he decided to accept an offer for a new position.
Mr McNabb has headed the Executive Information Service (EIS) for more than a decade and is popular with journalists and politicians.
It is understood the relationship between Mr McNabb and Ms Brady had deteriorated over issues he felt brought into question the impartiality of the NICS.
Stormont sources told the Belfast Telegraph that the decision by Ms Brady was 'short-sighted' as there is no 'plan B' in terms of someone being lined up to take over the running of the Executive Information Service.
'Jayne Brady, for whatever reason, took this decision, but it seems she hasn't thought it through,' one source said.
'I would describe it as a reasonably clumsy decision. No one is indispensable in a job, but it was fair that the First and deputy First Ministers questioned why Chris is being moved, as he hadn't done anything wrong.
"Jayne Brady just seems not to have valued the advice being given by Chris.
'It appears there has been no forward thinking as to how the EIS will be able to deliver the same level of service without someone else, with adequate experience, lined up to fill the role.'
It is understood Mr McNabb is still in post on paper, but will soon be formally moved to another internal position at Stormont.
The Executive Office has been contacted for comment.
Jayne Brady was brought in to head up the NICS in 2021 in what was the first external appointment in the organisation's history. She had previously been a senior official at Belfast City Council.
Speaking at the time of her appointment, Ms Brady said she was 'honoured' to take up the role, which came at a time when the NICS was still reeling from the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal.
'The NICS has a dedicated and skilled workforce who have done an outstanding job in the most challenging of circumstances,' she said.
'I will work with colleagues across the service to further develop the NICS as a high-performing organisation that effectively supports the institutions of government.
'I am under no illusions about the scale of the challenges ahead, but I am looking forward to supporting the Executive in delivering their commitments and priorities during my tenure.'
Concerns have previously been raised about Ms Brady acting outside her remit, such as when she wrote directly to then Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris in January 2024 asking him to release funds to make public sector pay awards.
In her letter to Mr Heaton-Harris, Ms Brady said the correspondence was being sent 'without prejudice to any decisions that an incoming executive might take', but that she was concerned about the 'public services, citizen safety and wellbeing, and the stability of public finances' posed by underfunding.
'You have publicly stated that the UK government cannot, and will not, stand by and allow public services and finances to decline further,' she said.
'This Thursday will represent the single biggest day of industrial action in a generation, reflecting the strength of feeling and deteriorating, and frankly untenable, position we are now in.'
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