Tinubu On Appointment Spree

For the past week or two, President Bola Tinubu has been on an appointment spree. As expected, when a new administration comes into power, the president changes chief executive officers and managing directors of government agencies. 

In this context, these appointments serve as a way for the president to reward party loyalists who delivered their wards or states to him. 

President Bola Tinubu, known to be a dedicated party man, was no exception.

Recently, the president made new appointments in the federal ministries of health, information, trade and investment, petroleum, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF).

He also approved the appointment of Shaakaa Chira as the substantive Auditor-General of the Federation, as recommended by the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), and the appointment of Adewale Adeniyi as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service.

Last week, the president appointed 24-year-old Imam Kashim Imam as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA). 

However, after significant public outcry about this appointment, the president withdrew the nomination this week.

Additionally, on Monday, the federal executive council held its second meeting in two months at the Presidential Villa. After the meeting, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed that the administration has changed the day of the council meetings from Wednesday to Monday. 

He also mentioned that these meetings may not be held weekly unless there are pressing issues to discuss.

Furthermore, this week, the president exhibited a generous spirit. On Friday, he approved the waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” Order that was instituted against striking members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on August 1, 2023, following the commencement of their industrial action, which began on July 26, 2023. 

The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation had been directed to withhold all salaries accrued by striking NARD members during the 17 days of their strike action.

Similarly, the president also approved a partial waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” Order against striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), following their eight-month industrial action, which began on February 14, 2022, and ended on October 17, 2022. 

This decision was made in recognition of the faithful implementation of terms agreed upon during discussions between ASUU and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

According to a statement by Presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale, this move was driven by the president’s determination to mitigate the difficulties experienced during the implementation of key economic reforms in the country. 

The President granted an exceptional last waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” Order for ASUU, allowing previously striking members to receive four months of salary accruals out of the eight months withheld during the industrial action. 

The President required that the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment must secure a Document of Understanding (DoU) to establish that this exceptional waiver granted by the President will be the last one for ASUU and all other Education Sector Unions.

The waivers provided to the resident doctors and lecturers indicate that the President is responsive to their concerns.