President Muhammadu Buhari approved a former mid-level civil servant to head a crucial electrification agency, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

Perhaps to conceal the fact that the appointment would be questioned by Nigerians, the appointee was described in a public press statement as an expert with “vast knowledge and experience in power sector development.”

A spokesperson announced Tuesday that the president approved the appointment of Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency.

Aaron Artimas, the Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the Minister of Power, made details of the appointment known in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

The statement said that Mr Ahmad is a renewable energy expert who holds two master’s degrees in development studies and project planning. He is also said to have “vast knowledge and experience in power sector development.”

PREMIUM TIMES’ check revealed, however, that Mr Ahmad was a level 12 public official and son of Salihijo Mohammed Ahmed, a former managing director of Afri-Project Consortium. Mr Salihijo was a major project consultant to the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF). He died on July 7, 1999.
While alive, he was a strong ally of Mr Buhari, who was then the Chairman of PTF.
Mr Buhari was appointed to head the PTF by the late military head of state, Sani Abacha.


Appointment
On Tuesday, the statement announcing the appointment of Mr Ahmad said he has “vast experience in the power sector development”.

But insiders who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES disputed the claim.

Details seen by this newspaper showed that Mr Ahmad graduated in 2006 with BSC Electronic Engineering. After graduation, he served the mandatory National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, in 2007 and was employed in 2008 at the infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) where Mansur Ahmed, one-time Chairman of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, NESG, headed.

Mr (Mansur) Ahmed is said to be one of the new appointee’s relatives.

In 2010, while at ICRC, there was a directive that the employment grade of Mr (Salihijo) Ahmad and a few others should be adjusted. Subsequently, his position was adjusted to Grade Level 9 Step 2, according to internal correspondence seen by PREMIUM TIMES.

While still at ICRC, he was posted on secondment as a personal assistant to the then Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed.

His last known promotion in the civil service Grade Level 12, PREMIUM TIMES gathered. One source said he left the ICRC in 2018.

Insiders say contrary to the “vast experience” the new MD is not known as a knowledgeable and experienced expert in the Nigerian power sector.

Nepotistic appointment?

The new appointment yet again raises questions about Mr Buhari’s penchant for appointing people into positions of authority not necessarily based on track records of excellence and expertise.

Since it came into power in 2015, the Buhari-led government has been charged with several allegations of nepotism in the appointment of public officials and other key governmental decisions.

In November 2018, PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Buhari approved the appointment of his son-in-law, Junaid Abdullahi, as Executive Secretary at the Border Communities Development Agency (BDCA).

His appointment took effect from September 22 for an initial period of four years.

PREMIUM TIMES first reported on November 5 that Mr Abdullahi, a retired airline pilot, had been quietly appointed head of the border agency. He was married to Zulaihat, the president’s first daughter, who passed on in November 2012 aged 40.

On Tuesday, the latest appointment raised questions about the president’s record of appointing officials based on other considerations apart from competence and experience.

Officials React
When contacted, the newly appointed MD, Mr Ahmad, did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES’ request to speak with him on the issue. When this newspaper called his known telephone number Wednesday morning, he did not respond. He has also not responded to multiple text messages sent to him as at the time of filing this report Wednesday afternoon.

When contacted on why the president made such appointment, Mr Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu, advised our reporter to contact either the Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, or the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

“My advice is that the President must not be the news source of first instance. It is either you get in touch with the Minister of Power who oversees the affairs of the agency and may have made the recommendation to the president for the appointment, or the SGF, who may have issued the appointment,” Mr Shehu said.

Mr Shehu later called back to request for some time to get across to the Minister of Power for his side of the story.

Separate calls and messages sent to the minister of power were not answered.

Lalasticlala
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/370749-exclusive-buhari-appoints-level-12-officer-lacking-vast-experience-as-head-rural-electrification-agency.html

Light no dey kukuma dey for urban areas,e come be rural areas....for d money,make him enjoy.

Nepotism at its highest.
Meanwhile, his son inlaw Junaid Abdullah is Executive Secretary at Border Communities Development Agency (BDCA).

I laff in zombie-izm.

Worst Nigerian president by a large mile

People just hate it when someone's is successful and that particular person is not one of there own. I think the only thing they should complain about is if he's actually qualify for the said position. If he's then why shouldn't he be given the job, God won't kum down frm heaven to put u there but send a Messiah to uplift you. That's grace, people should just stop hating and focus on betterment of there life nd existence.

[s]

GhettoG1:
People just hate it when someone's is successful and that particular person is not one of there own. I think the only thing they should complain about is if he's actually qualify for the said position. If he's then why shouldn't he be given the job, God won't kum down frm heaven to put u there but send a Messiah to uplift you. That's grace, people should just stop hating and focus on betterment of there life nd existence.

[/s]

Try and read the article and tell me he is more qualified to head that position.

Buhari remains the most nepotistic president to ever govern Nigeria.

GhettoG1:
People just hate it when someone's is successful and that particular person is not one of there own. I think the only thing they should complain about is if he's actually qualify for the said position. If he's then why shouldn't he be given the job, God won't kum down frm heaven to put u there but send a Messiah to uplift you. That's grace, people should just stop hating and focus on betterment of there life nd existence.

In a country like Nigeria it is difficult to believe that a person who graduated 11 years ago with no outstanding track record is qualified for this.
His peers from the south of the country never get such opportunities

Nepotism has eaten deep in our country..it begins with our leaders

Its not anybody business. Continue ranting. Thank God nobody has ever complain if the guy qualify or not.

Former recharge card sellers from Katsina all moved to cushy jobs in Abuja courtesy of Buhari's nepotism.

No be Buhari again? Keep appointing square pegs in round hole. Little wonder the entire nation is in chaos, and every economic and developmental indices are pointing towards negativity.

Look at the Nigeria he took over just five years ago.

Why am I not surprised, Birds of a feather.
Twice the country entered recession, and unfortunately it was during the regimes of One person.

[s]

BuhariAdvocate:
Its not anybody business. Continue ranting. Thank God nobody has ever complain if the guy qualify or not.

[/s]

What's this one saying?

It is important for priority to be given to the individual's qualification to hold such an appointment, rather than his/her affiliations.

....THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS THE EXPECTED DEVELOPED STRIDES UNDER THIS GOVERNMENT ARE SLOWED.

Many Nigerians are hypocritical because they would be happy, excited and care less to get ahead of more qualified competitors using their family and social connections. It happens everyday from jobs, appointments, promotions, contracts, even going in to consult a doctor in hospital.

Few years ago I attended a bank job test with a school mate who was a notorious rascally layabout. He resumed work in a couple of weeks while we continued further dead rubber interview process. On investigation, I discovered that his maternal uncle was high up in the bank.

This is the system we are in where processes are not recognized.
There is nothing wrong in the person appointed but there is everything wrong in the process.
Where is merit? If slaughtered on the altar of nepotism, it is not new because Buhari is just taking advantage of a weak system.

GhettoG1:
People just hate it when someone's is successful and that particular person is not one of there own. I think the only thing they should complain about is if he's actually qualify for the said position. If he's then why shouldn't he be given the job, God won't kum down frm heaven to put u there but send a Messiah to uplift you. That's grace, people should just stop hating and focus on betterment of there life nd existence.

This does not make any sense

Once he can deliver and set a standard that is uncommon in the agency,Forget about the relationship he has with anybody. We we need is excellent performance

BuhariAdvocate:
Its not anybody business. Continue ranting. Thank God nobody has ever complain if the guy qualify or not.

it's either a buharist is useless or confused..2020 faa

0monnak0da:

In a country like Nigeria it is difficult to believe that a person who graduated 11 years ago with no outstanding track record is qualified for this.
His peers from the south of the country never get such opportunities

you nailed just as it is..

ambu2:
Many Nigerians are hypocritical because they would be happy, excited and care less to get ahead of more qualified competitors using their family and social connections. It happens everyday from jobs, appointments, promotions, contracts, even going in to consult a doctor in hospital.

Few years ago I attended a bank job test with a school mate who was a notorious rascally layabout. He resumed work in a couple of weeks while we continued further dead rubber interview process. On investigation, I discovered that his maternal uncle was high up in the bank.

all this zombies sef

Rem22:
Once he can deliver and set a standard that is uncommon in the agency,Forget about the relationship he has with anybody. We we need is excellent performance

another one..all these zombies sef

Madammadam1:
THE MAN BEHIND THE MONIKER :

Eeya..he looks like a hunger stricken Almajiri..

men this government would be refrenced to for years to come but i have this question if a southerner becomes president in 2023 and does what buhari is doing with his appointment. hope the northerners would keep quiet as they are doing now

But there was no outrage when Our darling Daddy appointed 'Bubu' Galadima's daughter to work with him.

Wailers did not wail then, cos Galadima is one of them.
What a life of hypocrisy!

8-5 =3 years of serious wailing..........
Una go wail, una neck go long

Who needs experience to do nothing?

Is it that those persons supporting or excusing this on this thread have not read the article?

This is a clear case of Nepotism in appointing someone who has veey little experience in the power sector as a Chief Executive only because his dad is the Presidents friend.

There must be a limit to partisanship!!!!

post=85433045:
But there was no outrage when Our darling Daddy appointed 'Bubu' Galadima's daughter to work with him.

Wailers did not wail then, cos Galadima is one of them.
What a life of hypocrisy!

8-5 =3 years of serious wailing..........
Una go wail, una neck go long

Are you ok?

Okay!