Contrary to insinuations in some quarters of alleged punitive transfer, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has explained that changes in the administrative structure of the secretariat were intended to “reinforce its leadership capacity and strategic engagement.”

The forum had, in a recent sweeping move, made four senior-level appointments, including Dr Abdulateef Shittu (Director General); Mr. Edmund Nnaji (Executive Director, Finance and Administration); Professor Dauda Olalekan Yinusa (Executive Director, Policy, Strategy and Research) and Dr Ahmad Abdulwahab (Executive Director, Programmes and Partnerships).

Making the clarifications, Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi, the new Director of Media and Strategic Communications, remarked that the appointments, which span human capital management, security, economic policy and communication, are pursuant to the engagement of Deloitte by the NGF.

He stated that the engagement of the highly rated audit and management firm was intended “to reengineer the secretariat and strengthen its operational processes in line with its core mandate as a subnational policy hub and resource centre.”

According to Abdullahi, the efforts of the new appointees would be complemented by Chuku Chijioke Chuku (General Counsel and Head, Energy); Mrs. Hauwa Haliru-Hassan (Director, Gender Affairs & CEO Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum (NGSF) and Dr Ibrahim Ahmad Katsina (Senior Security Adviser).

“These structural alignment and new appointments further consolidate the secretariat’s technical depth and sectoral expertise, ensuring stronger programme delivery, cross-cutting policy coordination, and more robust engagement with member states and partners,” he stated.

The Director of Media stressed that the appointments “underscore the NGF’s commitment to building a high-performing, multidisciplinary leadership team capable of addressing Nigeria’s complex governance challenges—ranging from economic transformation and security to human capital development and effective public communication.”

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum was established at the onset of the current fourth republic to serve as a non-partisan platform that fosters collaboration, policy innovation, and strategic dialogue among Nigeria’s 36 state governors, promoting good governance, sustainable development, and national unity.