In partial fulfillment of his promise to inject some new officials and expand his cabinet to enhance government’s operations, President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in one fell swoop appointed 209 board chairmen and 1,258 members of government owned agencies and parastatals.
Buhari had at the National Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress, APC, held on October 31, pledged to make some appointments soon which would include ministers.
While announcing the appointments, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, said more appointments were still being expected.
In the appointments, Mallam Wada Maida, a former editor-in-chief and managing director of the News Agency of Nigeria, was announced as the agency’s (NAN) chairman.
Other appointments as announced by Boss Mustapha included Mr. Dapo Abiodun, Chairman of Heyden Petroleum, who contested for the senatorial seat of Ogun East in the 2015 election.
Abiodun was named as the new chairman of Corporate Affairs Commission.
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Many big wigs of the APC were similarly appointed.
The party’s legal adviser, Muiz Banire is now the chairman of the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) and Senator Olorunimbe Mamora is the chairman of Abuja Investment and Infrastructure Centre.
The party’s secretary, Mai Mala Buni, is the chairman of the Shippers Council and Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, the publicity secretary of the party is in charge of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC).
Demola Seriki, a former minister of state for defence is the chairman of the National Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, is the new chairman of the National Hospital, Abuja.
A former Deputy Speaker, Chibudom Nwuche, is in charge of Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja.
Dr. Leke Pitan, a former commissioner for health in Lagos, under Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was appointed chairman of National Agricultural Extension Research Liaison Services in Zaria; Teju Philips, also a former Lagos commissioner is the chairman of Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan while Pastor Yomi Kasali will head the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission.
Chief George Moghalu is the chairman of the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) and General John Shagaya is the chairman of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru Jos.
Former Governors of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and Engineer Segun Oni were also named as chairmen.
While Adebayo is in charge of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Oni who is a vice-chairman of the APC has been posted to Nigerian Export Processing Zone.
Senator Ayo Arise, a recent kidnap victim will chair Sheda Science and Technology Complex.
Former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Pauline Tallen is the new chairman of National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS(NACA).
Former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, will chair the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority, while a former deputy governor of Lagos, Femi Pedro, is the chairman of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria.
Timi Alaibe, former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, is heading to Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority as chairman.
According to Boss Mustapha, all the appointments take immediate effect.
The ministers under whom the agencies fall, have been asked to constitute the boards immediately.
Said Mustapha: “Mr. President considered the approval for the constitution of the boards as well as the appointments, very necessary, so as to provide a proper governance and oversight structure for Government Agencies and Parastatals.
“The constitution of the boards with the appointments, is a demonstration of this government’s efforts aimed at building strong institutions of governance, and by extension, improving the quality of policy formulation and supervision,” he added. *NAN