There is confusion surrounding the appointment of two managing directors and chief executives for the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority, UNRBDA.
Less than two months after President Bola Tinubu appointed Aliyu Tajudeen, a younger brother to Speaker of the House of Reps Abbas Tajudeen, as the managing director and CEO of the agency, the president appointed another head, Dangajere Jaja, who was nominated by Governor Uba Sani.
It was gathered that the speaker reportedly “outsmarted” the governor by obtaining a presidential approval for his brother when Mr Sani’s candidate was already at the “screening stage”.
Angered by the speaker’s “fast move”, the governor also met the president and secured a presidential approval for his candidate, Dangajere Jaja.
Mr Tajudeen’s appointment was communicated in a letter dated October 30, 2024, and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
According to the letter, with reference number SGF.51/S.4/T/368, Mr Tajudeen’s appointment takes effect from October 29, 2024, for a four-year term.
However, in a surprising turn of events, Mr Tinubu also announced the appointment of Mr Jaja, as managing director of the same agency.
The appointment, which makes no reference to Mr Tajudeen’s occupation of the office, was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Mr Jaja’s appointment was made alongside six executive directors for the UNRBDA.
observed that this is not the first time Mr Tinubu’s appointments or reversals have sparked controversy.
In August 2024, the President nominated Maryam Shetty as a ministerial nominee from Kano.
However, her nomination was withdrawn in a dramatic twist while she was at the National Assembly awaiting screening.
She was subsequently replaced with Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure.
On October 20, the President also withdrew the appointment of Imam Ibrahim Kashim as chairman of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA.
Similarly, in November, Daniel Bwala was appointed as Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications.
However, within 24 hours, his role was changed to Special Adviser on Policy Communications.
On December 6, the appointment of Yazid Danfulani as the Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund/Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative was withdrawn.
A statement issued by the presidency said Mr Danfulani’s appointment was cancelled as “there is no vacancy in the agency,” thereby returning Fatima Shinkafi as the executive secretary.
