President Bola Tinubu has approved the indefinite suspension of the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Engr Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad and three other directors, namely; Olaniyi Alaba Netufo – Executive Director, Corporate Services, Barka Sajou – Executive Director, Technical Services and Sa’adatu Balgore – Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF).
According to a statement released earlier today by the President’s Media aide, Ajuri Ngelale, the REA executives have been under a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of the Agency.
Initial findings precipitated the President to order wider investigations of the suspended officials in a fraudulent misexpenditure amounting to over N1.2 billion over the past two years, some of which has already been recovered by anti-graft agencies.
Their suspension follows President Bola Tinubu’s oft expressed directive that all all appointees in his administration should uphold the highest standards of transparency and accountability in the discharge of their duties.
It also reiterates the President’s determination to elevate the yearnings of Nigerians for good governance and qualitative service delivery above the narrow interests of individuals who are entrusted to provide critical services to the Nigerian people.
To ensure the affairs of the Agency are not affected, the President have appointed a new management team in acting capacity with immediate effect.
The new team includes; Abba Abubakar Aliyu as Managing Director/CEO, Ayoade Gboyega as Executive Director – Corporate Services, Umar Abdullahi Umar as Executive Director – Technical Services, Doris Uboh as Executive Director – Rural Electrification Fund (REF) and Olufemi Akinyelure as Head of Project Management Unit – Nigeria Electrification Project.
