The four-month delay in the release of appointment letters to the management teams of 12 River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) has become a source of concern in the agencies. This was revealed by interviews with the staff at some of the RBDAs.
Staff at some of the Authorities, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, 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 the way for officials of the Ministry of Water Resources to remotely run the organisations.
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 percent of the contractors nominated by the office of the minister and they can share the rest with the directors.
The source said the arrangement is likely to be the main item of discussion at a meeting to be held in Abuja today between officials of the Ministry and heads of the RBDAs.
Our reporter was shown a copy of the letter summoning the MDs of the Authorities by the office of the Minister of Water Resources.
The letter, dated March 21, 2025, read in part: “I am directed to invite the managing directors/officers overseeing the offices of the managing directors of the 12 River Basin Development Agencies (RBDAs) to a meeting with the 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, Finance and Administration Department of your RBDAs. The meeting is scheduled to be held as follows: Monday, March 24, at the conference hall of the Ministry by 2pm.”
It was signed by Christy O. Oduh, Director of the 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 Tinubu, who approved the appointment, adding that this does not augur well for the polity.
“It will also be unfair and unjust for anybody to sit on the appointment letters, which were supposed to have been given out to respective people at this material time,” he said.
Mr. Komolafe further disclosed that the officials, who were appointed on December 18, 2024, have wasted months waiting to formally assume their roles so as to enable them to contribute to the Renewed Hope of President Tinubu’s agenda.
“Mr. Komolafe recalled that many of the people had travelled long distances from their respective states to inquire from the office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation ( SGF) in Abuja why their letters of appointments were not released, but they have not got any favourable feedback
“It is worthy to note 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 Andrew Torhile Uchi, Personal Assistant to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, 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 recognise the efforts of the EFCC on this matter to ensure that those found culpable are held accountable,” the statement said.