Tension is rising among 72 newly appointed officials of 12 River Basin Development Authorities due to the unexplained delay in issuing their appointment letters. Despite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for the immediate release of these letters, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has yet to act on the order, leaving the appointees in uncertainty.
It has been three months since the President publicly announced their appointments, yet the process remains stalled. This situation has allowed the caretaker officials currently overseeing the River Basin Development Authorities to continue in their positions, despite the expected leadership transition.
One of the appointees, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed frustration over the situation. He noted, “It’s sad that three months after the President pronounced our appointments, we have been left in the cold. There is no explanation from the SGF who is supposed to issue our letters of appointment. We can’t access the SGF as we speak. There is no single word from him.”
Another appointee shared similar concerns, saying, “The entire thing is confusing. We have a mandate to contribute to the actualization of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President in the agricultural sector. But here we are waiting endlessly to hit the ground running.”
Attempts to get a response from the Presidential Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, and the SGF’s media aide, Chris Tarka, were unsuccessful. However, a reliable source within the presidency revealed that the delay was intentional.
The source explained that complaints had been raised about some of the appointed officials. According to him, “What happened is that those appointments are political positions. But some states complained about the appointees, and I think they protested to the SGF. So the presidency has been restrategizing on how to go about it.”
He further noted, “That’s what is delaying it. It is a case of some persons being appointed, I think from the North, that is different from the names of nominees submitted. There are similar cases like that in other River Basin Authorities. So they need to resolve these issues. I think that is actually where the problem lies.”
The delay affects various River Basin Development Authorities across the country, including Mamman Aliyu – Chairman (Jigawa), Rabiu Bichi – Managing Director (Kano), Tijjani Isa – Executive Director, Planning and Design (Jigawa), Zainab Gamawa – Executive Director Agric Services (Bauchi), Baffa Abdulkadir – Executive Director, Engineering (Kano) and Musa Kwankwaso – Executive Director Finance (Kano)
Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority has six new appointees namely Odebunmi Olusegun – Chairman (Oyo), Dr Adedeji Ashiru – Managing Director (Osun), Ayo Oyalowo – Executive Director, Finance (Oyo), Dokunmu Oyekunle – Executive Director, Planning and Design (Ogun), Suleiman Oris – Executive Director, Agric Services (Lagos) and Julius Oloro – Executive Director, Engineering (Lagos)
Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority equally has six, which include Sanusi Babantanko – Chairman (Bauchi), Samuel Mahmud Mohammed – Managing Director (Taraba), Usman Bakare – Executive Director, Engineering (Taraba), Ibrahim Jalo – Executive Director Finance (Gombe), Isa Matori – Executive Director, Planning and Design (Bauchi) and Hamman Dikko – Executive Director, Agric Services (Adamawa)
Chad Basin Development Authority has Prof. Abdu Dauda – Chairman (Borno), Tijjani Tumsa – Managing Director (Yobe), Bashir Baale – Executive Director, Finance (Yobe), lliyasu Muazu – Executive Director, Agric Services (Adamawa), Mohammed Shetima – Executive Director, Engineering (Borno) and Vrati Nzonzo – Executive Director, Planning and Design (Borno).
Other River Basin Authorities include Benin-Owena with six appointees, Niger Delta (six), Upper Niger River (six), Lower Niger (six), Lower Benue (six), Anambra-Imo Basin with six, Cross River Basin (six) and Sokoto Rima Basin also with six executives.
