The Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority (UBRBDA) is currently subsumed in a seismic tension over the alleged refusal of its Managing Director, Eng. Abubakar Halilu Muazu to vacate office after his tenure of office has lapsed six days ago.
Documents seen by our reporter indicated that Muazu was appointed via a memo by the immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal on June 6, 2016.
In the letter dated January 16, 2017, Lawal who conveyed the appointment stated that: ” I’m pleased to inform you that the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR has approved your appointment as Managing Director, Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority for an initial period of four years.
“The appointment took effect from June 6, 2016 and your emoluments and other conditions of service as are provided under certain political, public and judicial office holders, salaries and allowances.”
This paper gathered that following his failure to vacate office after serving out his tenure on June 6, 2020, some aggrieved staff of the organisation have commenced subterranean moves to get him ousted as they said all actions he took in office are null and void going by the fact that he was occupying the office illegally.
Abubakar Halilu Muazu, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer; UBRBDA, Yola.
The unease calm in the organization became more glaring via a letter which the Director of Human Resources, Murtala H. Modibbo forwarded to the embattled Managing Director.
In the letter dated June 8, 2020 seen by our reporter, Modibbo reminded Muazu that he is currently occupying the office illegally as his tenure has lapsed on June 6, 2020.
“Your appointment letter Ref No. SGF. 6/S.5/C.2/III/964 dated January 16, 2017 refers.
“According to the letter, your tenure ended on June 6, 2020.
“I wish to also draw your attention to the content of a circular Ref. No SGF 50/S.II/C.2/268 December 4, 2017 on end of tenure processes for heads of Extra-ministerial, Departments, Directors General, Chief Executive Officers of Parastatals, Agencies, Commissions and Government owned companies and succession guidelines for your information and necessary action,” Modibbo told Muazu.
In the same vein, this paper was also privileged to see another memo addressed to the chairman board of the UBRBDA by the secretary of the board, Murtala H. Modibbo.
The letter dated June 9, 2020 and copied to the board members was titled; “Implied existing vacuum in the office of MD of this authority.”
In the letter Modibbo stated: “The purpose of this letter is to draw the attention of the board to the vacuum seemingly created in the office of the MD of the authority.
“Records available indicated that Eng. Abubakar Halilu Muazu’s tenure has ended on the June 6, 2020 for an initial period of 4 years and should have under normal circumstances vacated office going by the extant circular from the SGF Ref No. SGF.50/S.II/62/268 dated December 4, 2017.
“The authority’s day to day activities including financial commitments are still ongoing which requires the CEO’s legal status as he sanctions, chairs and directs activities that could be challenged if his mandate has terminated,” the board secretary noted.
FOMBINATIMES upon investigation was able to find the circular upon which the UBRBDA board secretary premised his letter to the Managing Director.
The circular which emanated from the office of the SGF was referenced SGF.50/S.II/62/268. It was signed by the incumbent Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha on December 4, 2017.
The circular which was titled “End of tenure processes for heads of extra-ministerial Departments, Directors General, Chief Executive Officers of Parastatals, Agencies, Commissions and government owned companies and succession guidelines” stipulated the tenure and successions of the various office holders.
It stated thus: “It has become necessary to draw the attention of all heads of extra-ministerial departments, directors general, chief Executive Officers of Parastatals, Agencies, Commissions and government owned companies to keep to the date of expiration of their tenure in office.
“It is important to note that chief executives whose duration of term in office are explicitly stated in the enabling acts of establishment of their respective organizations and/or specified in the instrument of such respective appointments are under no circumstances allowed to exceed the expiration of their tenure in office.
“Furthermore, pending the appointment of a substantive head of extra-ministerial department/ Director General/ Chief Executive Officer of the Parastatals, Agency, Commission and Government owned companies, outgoing Chief Executive Officers must hand over to the next most senior officer of the establishment as long as the officer does not have any pending disciplinary matter. Outgoing Heads of extra-ministerial departments, Parastatals, Agencies, Commissions and Government owned Companies are not allowed the discretion of choosing the officer to whom they would handover,” the memo noted.
In a recent circular signed by the SGF, Boss Mustapha, on approved disciplinary procedures against Chief Executive Officers of the federal government Parastatals, Agencies, and Departments dated May 19, 2020, the SGF said, the December 4, 2017 circular on the end of tenure process for heads of extra-ministerial Departments, Directors General/ Chief Executive Officers of Parastatals, Agencies, Commissions and Government owned companies and succession guidelines still subsists.
Case settled as MD gets another term of office
But ecstatic Public Relations Officer of the authority, who doubles as Chairman Agricultural an Allied Employee Union of Nigeria (AAEUN), Mr. Ahmed Mbamba, told our reporter who was at the UBRBDA headquarters that the quagmire over the tenure of his boss was over.
To buttress his claim, he flashed this reporter with a press release from the federal ministry of water resources confirming the reappointment of his boss Eng. Abubakar Halilu Muazu.
The press release signed by Mrs. Kenechukwu Offie, a director of information at the ministry of water resources dated June 11, 2020 entitled: “Reapportionment of Managing Director: Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority” confirmed the reappointment of Muazu by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari GCFR has approved the reappointment of Eng. Abubakar Halilu Muazu as the Managing Director of Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority, Yola.
“The appointment is for the second and final term with effect from Saturday, 6th June, 2020,” the terse statement said.
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