One of the most striking moments when a military government takes power is the immediate dissolution of agencies and the dismissal of all leaders.
Unfortunately, this approach has become a semblance of the Tinubu regime since assuming office. The majority of government agency heads are dismissed and replaced, even if they have not yet completed their constitutionally mandated terms in office.
In some cases, individuals are encouraged to retire. The effectiveness and suitability of this governance style for the betterment of the state remain uncertain, as it does not convey the appropriate message and sets a precedent with far-reaching implications.
Last week, most agency heads in the Ministry of Trade and Investment, Digital Economy Ministry, and Ministry of Information and Orientation were sacked without prior information, despite still serving their constitutional terms in office.
Bola Tinubu claims to be a democrat, but his actions since assuming office contradict his claims. Not even Muhammadu Buhari sacked all agency heads.
If Tinubu is not called to order, a dangerous precedent will be set, and Nigeria will become a pyria state. Almost all heads of federal parastatals and government agencies are now set to leave, with most already gone.
For Tinubu and his boys, government is run by compensating those willing to bend their knee for the “Lagos godfather,” and Nigerian institutions become a compensation purse.
This concern was echoed by Dr. Joe Abah in addressing Senator Dr. George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Federal Republic of Nigeria. He stated,
Dear
@SGFAkume, Sir. The Federal Government has traditionally respected the tenures of agency heads. Unless they are corrupt, ineffective or openly politically partisan in favour of the losing political party, agency heads have traditionally been allowed to complete their tenures. Let us be careful not to go back to tying the tenures of agency heads to political administrations. We’ve been there before with the Dotun Phillips Reforms of 1988 that tied the tenure of political appointees to the governments that appointed them. It didn’t work. Instead, it irrevocably destroyed the independence of the public sector and sacrificed competence at the alter of partisanship. Thank you, Sir.
President Bola Tinubu has effected immediate major changes in the leadership of eight parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
According to a release issued on Thursday by presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, the President has approved the appointment of eight new Chief Executive Officers for Parastatals and Agencies under the Information Ministry.
The appointees include National Orientation Agency (NOA) — Director-General / CEO — Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu; Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) — Director-General / CEO — Mr. Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos; Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) — Director-General / CEO — Dr. Muhammed Bulama and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) — Director-General / CEO — Mr. Charles Ebuebu.
Others are Voice of Nigeria (VON) — Director-General / CEO — Mr. Jibrin Baba Ndace; Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) — Director-General / CEO — Dr. Lekan Fadolapo; News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) — Managing Director / CEO — Mr. Ali Muhammed Ali and Nigerian Press Council (NPC) — Executive Secretary / CEO — Mr. Dili Ezughah.
President Tinubu charged the newly entrusted leadership in these important sub-sectors to innovate and create new opportunities for Nigerians to leverage upon through the effective reform of these key institutions of government which function to unify our people, reshape mindsets, and showcase this great nation to the rest of the world.
