A group, the Pan-African Economic and Financial Security Initiative, has called on President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make a complete overhaul of government agencies and parastatals with a call for the sack of the Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers of the dissolved boards, alleging that the continued stay of such executive officers has led to alleged looting of public funds and crippling government agencies across the country.
According to the group, though Nigerians welcomed the dissolution of the boards of parastatals and MDAs, they however doubt that the intention of President Tinubu was to remove all the governing board members in government agencies that provided checks and balance with accountability and leave the managing directors and chief executive officers with unlimited powers that has turned them into dictators to do whatever they want, with no accountability whatsoever.
The National Coordinator of the Pan-African Economic and Financial Security Initiative, Barrister Samuel Chukwu, in a statement while briefing Journalists and Newsmen in Abuja, urged President Tinubu to immediately sack the Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers of such agencies as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the North-East Development Commission and other agencies and to allow the most qualified civil servant director to take over the affairs of these agencies until the president constitutes a full governing board that will deliver his mandates.
According to him, reports of preliminary investigations conducted by the group showed that the information about governing boards dissolution was allegedly leaked before the official announcement and “by the following week, the Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers were exempted from dissolution despite being confirmed by the Senate at the same time with the governing board as one-body. this has never happened throughout our nation’s history.”
“Mr. President, do not be misled by politicians and some of your recent kitchen cabinet appointees who are advising you to retain these old managing directors and chief executive officers that you never appointed. All these managing directors and CEOs are carryovers from the previous administration. Every hour that goes by with these CEOs in office, Nigeria is losing billions of naira in alleged fraudulent contract payments, therefore we call on you to dissolve them.”
“We are all aware of the strong start President Tinubu has made in his administration, taking decisive action against alleged corrupt officials from the previous administration. His unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of governance is truly commendable and sets a positive tone for the future of our nation. In-light of these positive steps, it is our duty to draw attention to an unintended consequence that has emerged from recent changes within the federal government’s agencies.”
“As you are all aware, the President, in exercise of his constitutional and statutory powers, dissolved the Governing Boards of Government Agencies. Yet, the Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers have been left with unlimited powers with no accountability whatsoever. This dissolution of the Governing Boards, while initiated with the best intentions, has inadvertently created a situation where Chief Executive Officers now wield unchecked powers.”
“Rather than the current status quo remaining, it is better for the most senior Civil Servant in these Agencies to be saddled with the responsibilities of the administrative affairs therein. These are seasoned technocrats with the requisite experience and can easily be checked and called to order in cases of any financial impropriety.”
“We kindly call on you Mr. President to immediately dissolve the Managing Directors and CEOs of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) and other agencies and allow the most qualified civil servant director to take over the affairs of these agencies until you constitute a full governing board.”
“We recognize the weight of responsibility on President Tinubu’s shoulders and trust in his ability to navigate the complexities of governance. Our intention is to offer support and contribute to the collective effort in building a strong and prosperous Nigeria. We believe that, as a nation, we are at our strongest when we come together, united in our pursuit of a corruption-free Nigeria. By bringing this matter to light, we demonstrate our shared commitment to upholding the principles that define us as a nation.”
We remain optimistic that our message will reach President Tinubu, resonating with his dedication to the well-being of our great nation. Together, let us work towards a future where transparency prevails, accountability thrives, and Nigeria stands as a beacon of integrity.”
