Nigeria Content Online

Some
presidential aides are allegedly responsible for the delay by the
Presidency in appointing a substantive head for the Bureau for Public
Enterprises (BPE).

NEXT learnt in
Abuja that a memo from the Bureau demanding President Goodluck
Jonathan’s intervention following the expiration of the tenure of the
acting Director-General, is mired in political intrigues weaved between
the office of Chief of Staff to the President, Mike Oghaidome, and
Principal Secretary to the President, Hassan Tukur.

Mr Oghaidome is
allegedly pushing for the confirmation of Bolanle Onaguruwa, the acting
Director-General, while Mr. Tukur is reportedly linked with the lobby
for the appointment of one Mr Njida.

Mrs Onagoruwa was
named last March in the wake of the ouster of Christopher Anyanwu, the
former Director General, over his role in the mismanagement of the sale
of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL). But shortly after
Onagoruwa’s name was announced, it emerged that she was due for
retirement on 18 June.

On June 19, an
internal memo signed by Ignatius Ayewoh, the Head, Human Resources,
reportedly conveyed approval from the Presidency for the extension of
Mrs Onagoruwa’s tenure for another one month, though officials of the
Bureau raised issues of improper channeling of the directive.

To these officials,
considering that Mrs Onagoruwa’s is a civil servant, such directives
for the extension of her tenure should have emanated from the Office of
the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF).

“The directive from
the Presidency would have been proper only if the acting director
general were to be confirmed the substantive director general of the
bureau, since that office is for political appointees,” an official
said.

Handled casually

A senior presidency
official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, yesterday expressed
dismay that the appointment of a substantive head for an important
agency as the BPE is being handled casually.

“It goes to show
government’s lack of seriousness in handling the affairs of most of its
agencies, whether BPE, or several others without substantive management
committees or governing boards. The delay is frustrating the smooth
operation of the agency. It is affecting everything.

“Even the acting
Director-General cannot be dedicated and committed, because her interim
status does not allow her to focus her attention and energy on doing
the job. She would not take decisions, because of the fear that they
may be considered illegal, considering that she is staying on borrowed
time, as her tenure has since lapsed,” the official said.

“If the new appointee would not be selected from among the qualified
BPE directors, government should ensure that the prospective candidate
is thoroughly screened to determine his credibility, competence and
character. We do not want politicians who would not have the capacity
to sustain the reforms in the agency.” Several calls and text messages
to Ima Niboro, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media,
for official response on the issue were not responded to.