FG to review 72 River Basin Authority appointments over letter delays

The Federal Government is set to review the appointments of 72 executives named by President Bola Tinubu in December 2024 to oversee the River Basin Development Authorities following delays in issuing their appointment letters.

This development comes three months after their appointments were announced, yet the appointees have not received their official letters from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, in line with the president’s directive.

But the SGF’s spokesperson, Segun Imohiosen attributed the delay to the need to carry out an internal review of the appointments which was widely publicized.

Imohiosen, who spoke on behalf of Akume, did assured that the process would soon be concluded but did not specify a timeline for the resolution

“I am aware of the development and i can assure you that an internal review concerning the appointments is being carried out and as soon as it is concluded we will make it public” Imohiosen stated.

The prolong delay has made the caretaker officials overseeing the 12 River Basin authorities to continue in office

One of the appointees who pleaded anonymity said “The entire thing is confusing. We have a mandate to contribute to the actualisation of the renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President in the agricultural sector.

“But here we are waiting endlessly to hit the ground running.”

It was gathered that some states complained about the appointees and protested to the SGF which necessitated the review

“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 government source explained.

Recall President Tinubu had charged the appointees to use their wealth of experience to bolster the efficiency of the organisations, in line with the administration’s commitment to bettering the lives of citizens.

In Hadejia Jamaere River Basin Development Authority which has Kano, Jigawa and Bauchi as coverage areas, six new officials were engaged.

They included 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.