NBRDA: SGF distances self from re-appointment of DG as acting role expires April 27, 2025

CSOs call for probe, appointment of substantive Head

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator George Akume has distanced himself from the purported tenure extension of the sit-tight Director General of National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA),Professor Abdullahi Mustapha who’s tenure ended October 27, 2024.

Segun Imohioson ,the Director of Information in the office of the SGF says the office did not extend the said tenure and that it was the prerogative of the President of Nigeria , Bola Ahmed Tinubu and not that of the SGF senator Akume.

Press secretary to the NBRDA Chief Executive , Toyin Omozuwa ,last year announced that the SGF had written Professor Abdullahi to intimate him of his re-appointment through a letter signed by the SGF.

In a text message upon inquiry on the heels of findings that the purported letter from the SGF was misleading , the Director of information simply said , “The SGF doesn’t make appointments. This is the Prerogative and directive of the President”.

The Independent Public Service Accountability Watch (IPSAW) had called on the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission in a petition to probe the authenticity of the purported re-appointment of Professor Abdullahi Mustapha on March 7, 2025.

Describing the development as “brazen corruption and impunity ” regarding the said re-appointment.

IPSAW Executive Director Stephen Eriba clearly said keeping the NBRDA Director General violated extant regulations .

The association in a letter to the minister of Science and Technology said, the re-appointment contravene the extant regulations issued through on 4, December 2017 through a circular from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation which stipulates that any Chief Executive ending their tenure must hand over to the most senior Director in the Agency .

The association alleged further that the SGF did not issue any letter extending the tenure of NBRDA Director General ,neither was there any official announcement for the President of Nigeria to that effect .

Surprisingly , findings from the agency shows that the narrative was gradually changed from a letter of an extension of five years to a six-month acting role as DG in favour of Professor Abdullahi.

Miffed by this development, the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately commence the process of appointing a substantive Director General for the NBRDA in line with the provisions of condition of service for federal research and development institutions and colleges (COS 2919).

The association in a letter signed by its National Secretary , Professor Theophilus Ndubuaku said chapter 2, which address the issues of appointments and emoluments states in chapter 21,3.3 (a) that vacancies to the positions of Executive Director and Director General shall be advised .

It however on the appointing authority to rely on chapter 21,3 .3 (c) which says, “the recruitment and selection committee shall first consider claims of outstanding and meritorious scientists in the institution concerned ,who fall within the field selection for recommendation in their order of relative eligibility”.

Further findings also revealed that the NBRDA DG has equally exhausted his purported acting role since April 27, 2025.