The Presidency sources on Thursday evening, said in the light of new findings unearthed during a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), President Bola Tinubu has approved the indefinite suspension of the Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, alongside three Executive Directors of the Agency.
The Executive Directors affected are Executive Director, Corporate Services, Olaniyi Alaba Netufo; Barka Sajou of Technical Services and Sa’adatu Balgore of Rural Electrification Fund (REF).
President Tinubu also ordered a wider investigation into the conduct of the aforementioned officials in what the presidency described as “fraudulent misexpenditure amounting to over N1.2 billion over the past two years, some of which has already been recovered by anti-graft agencies.”
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale confirmed to our correspondent that “by the directive of the President, the following qualified Nigerians are appointed to serve in the new management team of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in acting capacity with immediate effect.”
Abba Abubakar Aliyu is Managing Director/CEO while Ayoade Gboyega was appointed Executive Director, Corporate Services.
Umar Abdullahi Umar is Executive Director, Technical Services; Doris Uboh, Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF); while Olufemi Akinyelure is the new Head of Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Project.
Ngelale said President Bola Tinubu expects all appointees in his administration to uphold the highest standards of transparency and accountability in the discharge of their duties and reiterates his 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.
