Hon. Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev
The four-month delay in the the release of appointment letters to the management teams of Nigeria’s 12 Nigerian River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) has become a source of unease and friction in the agencies, interviews with staff at some of the RBDAs have revealed.
Staff at two of the RBDAs, who spoke on condition of anonymity over fears that they might be penalized, said the non-resumption of the officers have reduced the threshold for good governance and financial accountability at the organisations.
Specifically, it is believed that the non-release of the letters has paved way for officials of the Ministry of Water Resources to remotely run these organizations.
Efforts to get the reaction of officials of the Ministry of Water Resources was not successful at press time.
A source alleged that the Managing Directors (MDs) of the Authorities have been instructed to split jobs into pieces to fall within the MD’s approval limit, out of which they were to select 70% for contractors nominated by the Office of the Minister and they can share the rest with the Directors.
The source said this arrangement is likely to be the main item of discussion at a meeting to be held in Abuja on Monday between officials of the Ministry and heads of the RBDAs.
Our reporter was shown a copy of the letter summoning the Managing Directors (MDs) of the Authorities by the Office of the Minister of Water Reaources.
The letter shows that the Managing Directors were asked to attend along with the Heads of procurement, as well as Finance and Administration.
The letter, dated 21st March 2025,reads:
To All Managing Directors, RBDAs
Invitation to the Honourable Minister
I am directed to invite the Managing Directors/officers overseeing offices of the Managing Directors of the 12 River Basin Development Agencies (RBDAs) to a meeting with the Honourable Minister. The meeting is to discuss crucial issues bordering on the 2025 Appropriation Act and other sundry issues affecting the RBDAs.
Accordingly, you are to be accompanied by the Head of procurement and Finance and Administration Department of your RBDAs. The meeting is scheduled to hold as follows: Monday, March 24, Ministry Conference Hall by 2pm.
It was signed by Engr Christy O. Oduh, Director Rivers Basins Operations and inspectorate.
Recently, an APC chieftain, Okuwole Komolafe told the Sun newspaper that the non-release of the appointment letter to FG appointed management teams
amounted to undermining the power of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who approved the appointment, adding that this does not augur well for polity.
“It will also be unfair and unjust for anybody to sit on the appointment letters ,which was supposed to have been given out to respective people at this material time,” he said.
Mr. Komolafe further disclosed hat these officials, who were appointed on December 18, 2024, have now wasted months waiting to formally assume their roles so as to enable them to contribute to the Renewed Hopes of President Tinubu’ s agenda.
Mr. Komolafe recalled that many of these people had travelled long distance from their respective states to inquire from the office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation ( SGF) in Abuja on why their letters of appointments were not released, but they have not gotten favourable feedback
It is worthy nothing that the office of the SGF has itself been rocked by a corruption scandal.
This has led to an ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) involving Hon. Andrew Torhile Uchi, Personal Assistant to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation bothering on allegations of corruption, bribery, and money laundering running into billions of naira.
The SGF, in a statement by his spokesman Seun Imohiosen, distanced himself from the scandal.
The SGF “Office leadership is not in any way involved in the alleged misconduct as it has always maintained a strong commitment to transparency , accountability, and integrity
We recognize the efforts of the EFCC on this matter to ensure that those found culpable are held accountable., ” the statement said.
