GALE OF REVERSALS: NTA, FERMA, FCC — 10 times Tinubu revoked appointments

When President Bola Tinubu made some key appointments “with immediate effect” for the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) on August 20, he said the move reaffirmed his “commitment to strengthening national broadcasting as a platform for unity, cohesion, and soft diplomacy”.

Hence, Rotimi Pedro, with over 20 years of broadcasting experience, was appointed director-general of NTA. Pedro said his mission was to save the media agency from being “a dying brand” through the deployment of technology, innovation, and building a sustainable audience.

Stella Din-Jacob, who served as director of news and editor-in-chief at Television Continental (TVC) for the past seven years, wrote on her LinkedIn page last week that she was “happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Executive Director (News) at Nigerian Television Authority”.

She “embraced the new role” and wrote emotional farewell messages to her colleagues at TVC.

“This new chapter at NTA is both humbling and weighty,” Din-Jacob added.

But barely two weeks later, while her profile still bears this new title, the president, on Tuesday, reversed the appointments — hers, Pedro’s, and that of Karimah Bello, who was appointed executive director of marketing.

The president, instead, returned the old guards back to their positions. What does this mean for the commitment he made to transform the NTA?

This development is not a one-off.

In recent months, Tinubu has reversed several high-profile appointments, often just days after they were announced by the presidency. What should signal stability in governance has instead created uncertainty. From regulatory agencies to political boards, appointees barely settle into their offices before being shown the way out.

These repeated recalls and corrections have raised questions about the presidency’s decision-making process: whether the reversals reflect responsiveness to administrative needs or point to a lack of due diligence at the highest levels of the presidency. What behind-the-scenes events determine who influenced the appointments, who stays, who goes, and why?

REVERSED IN HOURS

In August, Tinubu reappointed Muheeba Dankaka for a second 5-year term as the chairperson of the Federal Character Commission (FCC).

The president also appointed Mohammed Musa as the commission’s secretary and retained Kayode Oladele from Ogun as commissioner.

But a few hours later, Tinubu relieved Dankaka of her role and announced Ayo Omidiran, a former house of representatives member, as her replacement.

The presidency did not give explanations for the reversal. It was unclear if the recall had any connection to accusations of high-handedness and job racketeering against Dankaka in 2023.

IN NDDC, PARTY MEMBERSHIP TAKES SUPREMACY

In 2024, Tinubu appointed Asu Okang, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, to the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The development sparked protests in some quarters. Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) converged at the government house in Calabar, Cross River, to express their reservations.

Subsequently, Tinubu replaced Okang with Orok Otuk Duke.

The APC in Ondo had also rejected Victor Akinjo’s nomination to the NDDC board, saying it could “demoralise” members who “greatly contributed to the success of the ruling party during the elections”.

The president also approved the replacement of Akinjo with Otito Atikase.

WITHDRAWAL OF CBN BOARD APPOINTMENT

Ruby Onwudiwe’s appointment as a board member of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was withdrawn following concerns raised over her affiliation with the Labour Party.

Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were said to have mounted pressure on Tinubu over Onwudiwe’s open support for the opposition party in the 2023 presidential election.

Tinubu, who asked the senate to confirm the appointment of Onwudiwe on March 14, reportedly requested that the senate step down Onwudiwe’s nomination.

She is not listed as a board member on the apex bank’s website.

On March 12, Tinubu nominated Melvin Ayogu to the board of the CBN to fill the vacant seat from the south-east. Ayogu was confirmed on March 25.

REVERSAL OF INEC REC APPOINTMENTS 

On March 18, Tinubu asked the senate to reverse the appointments of Mohammad Ngoshe (Borno) and Owede Kosioma Eli (Bayelsa) as resident electoral commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The reversal came just six days after the president had nominated them. In their place, Umar Mukhtar, the sitting REC for Borno, was reappointed for a second term, while Johnson Alalibo Silnikiem was named REC for Bayelsa.

Tinubu explained that the change became necessary after he decided to renew Mukhtar’s tenure.

FERMA CHAIR APPOINTMENT REVERSED

On October 13, 2023, 24-year-old Ibrahim Kashim Imam was appointed chairperson of the board of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

His nomination immediately sparked controversy as concerns were raised over his age and experience. Imanwas, at the time, serving as an aide to David Umahi, minister of works.

Two days later, his appointment was withdrawn by the president.  No reason was given for the withdrawal.

IDRIS OLORUNNIMBE REPLACED WITH AL-MAKURA AS UBEC CHAIR

Idris Olorunnimbe was appointed as chairman of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) board by Tinubu on March 11.

However, in July, his appointment was withdrawn, and he was replaced by Tanko Umaru Al-Makura, a former governor of Nasarawa.

A month later, Tinubu reappointed Olorunnimbe as chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

MARYAM SHETTY LEARNT OF HER REPLACEMENT AT N’ASSEMBLY GATE

One of the earliest and most controversial appointment turnarounds by Tinubu is the reversal of the ministerial nomination of Maryam Shetty.

Shetty was among the 37 ministerial nominees sent to the senate for screening in the third month of Tinubu’s presidency.

The Kano-born politician arrived at the national assembly on August 4 for her screening, but was told at the gate of the senate that her name had been replaced with that of Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, another nominee from the state.

No reason or explanation was given for the reversal.

While the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was infamous for making posthumous appointments, the Tinubu regime may just have carved its niche in the reversal of appointments.

For Nigerians already wary of politics, the trend of withdrawn and reversed appointments is deepening doubts about the steadiness of the current administration.

Every nomination announced and later retracted chips away at confidence in the government’s judgement, fuelling the perception of a presidency that decides in haste and corrects in confusion.

TWO POSTMASTER GENERALS

In October 2023, there was chaos at the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) when two individuals claimed the position of the postmaster general.

In an announcement made by Ajuri Ngelale, then presidential spokesperson, as part of the leadership shuffle implemented for agencies and parastatals under the ministry of communications, innovations and digital economy, Tinubu relieved Adeyemi Adepoju from his role and appointed Tola Odeyemi as the new chief executive officer (CEO) of NIPOST.

However, in another statement published on NIPOST’s official X account, the agency said the president had reinstated Adepoju. Meanwhile, the presidency did not release an official statement confirming the reinstatement of Adepoju as the postmaster general of NIPOST.

Despite an initial pushback by members of staff of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), Odeyemi assumed duty as the agency’s postmaster general.

TURKEY AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE RETURNS TO STATUS QUO

Less than 24 hours after announcing the ambassadorial posting of Usman Dakingari, former Kebbi governor, as ambassador-designate to Turkey, the presidency made a U-turn.

In a statement released Friday by the State House, Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, said no ambassador has been appointed to Turkey. The presidency did not give a reason for the sudden change. (The Cable)