Buhari Leads Govs Into Award Of Last-Minute Contracts, Appointments

With few days to the end of their tenure, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and some governors continue the ‘culture’ of last-minute award of contracts, appointments and huge expenditures, DANIEL AYANTOYE examines the justification as well as the problem such could create for an incoming government

It is true that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides for a president and governors to serve for a minimum of four years, within which they are expected to carry out their constitutional responsibilities.

Meanwhile, towards the end of their tenure, it is generally expected that they gradually wind down their activities and leave certain critical decisions for the incoming government. This is important to avoid neglect of projects the new government may deem unimportant, policy reversal, especially considering the impact of such on certain stakeholders, and to avoid creating an atmosphere of uncertainty in the investment and business environments.

While this seems like the ideal, it is fast becoming a culture for outgoing executives to take critical decisions and make major appointments in the twilight of their tenures. Some of these decisions are not only belated, they sometimes create problems for incoming governments.

Barely 19 days to the exit of President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), from office, many Nigerians were taken aback on May 10, 2023, when reports emerged that the President was seeking Senate approval for $800m loan from the World Bank to finance the National Social Safety Network Programme, to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.

Buhari made the request in a letter to the Senate, which was read to lawmakers on the floor of the House by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.

Aside from the fact that the loan will increase the country’s debt burden, the request coming a few days before the expiration of his regime raised concerns among many.

Surprised about the development, the Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Apapa Branch, Frank Onyebu, described the loan request as shocking.

“One would expect that what the government should be doing right now is preparing for handover,” he said.

Also, an economist and the Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, while speaking during a breakfast television show on Arise Television raised concern over the debt burden as well as the timing of the loan.

He said, “Generally, we reckon with the fact that government is a continuum. It is like a relay race. But for something as fundamental as this, I don’t think there is any justification that just a few days to the end of the administration, the administration is making a request for this. My submission is that if this $800m request is either for subsidy or social investments, I think we should hold on. We should allow the incoming administration to deal with all of these issues.”

Apprehensive of the country’s situation, the Director-General of the Budget Office, Mr Ben Akabueze, while speaking at the induction of members-elect of the National Assembly, organised by the National Assembly and the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies on Tuesday, May 17, said the huge debt was becoming unsustainable.

He stated, “Once a country’s debt-service ratio exceeds 30 per cent, that country is in trouble and we are already pushing toward 100 per cent. That tells you how much trouble we are in.”

Aside from the loan request, there are also concerns over other activities of the outgoing government.

On Thursday, the Federal Government at the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Buhari approved the sum of N68bn for projects, barely a week to its valedictory session.

Also, FEC in a previous meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on April 19 approved a number of contracts running into over N100bn.

Saturday PUNCH reported that Buhari and his ministers awarded contracts worth over N3.7tn in the dying embers of his regime, spanning March 20, 2023 to May 14, 2023. This was after the general elections.

Similarly, Buhari has continued to appoint people into various departments and agencies.

In May, the President reconstituted the board of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency. He appointed James Akintola as the new board chairman.

He also appointed a retiring Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Garba Baba Umar, as a Senior Security Adviser on International Police Cooperation and Counter-terrorism, in the Office of the Minister of Police Affairs.

The most recent was the appointment of Toyin Madein as the substantive Accountant General of the Federation, which was announced by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, on Friday

The appointment came about one year after the former AGF, Ahmed Idris, was suspended following allegations of N109bn fraud.

Similarly on Friday, the President approved the immediate resumption of the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the North East Development Commission, Umar Hashidu, and other members of the Board.

Earlier in May, Buhari requested the confirmation of the Senate for the appointment of 12 nominees as members of the Governing Board of the North East Development Commission.

Defending the appointments, the Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in an interview with Arise TV recently said Buhari would keep working until the last day of his regime, May 29, 2023, noting that the President had a lot of memos to attend to.

He had said, “The President has been working and he keeps working. You need to see the Federal Executive Council meeting. It took almost six to eight hours. Another one has been scheduled for Monday, and another one on Wednesday so that we can treat all the outstanding memos before the time of the administration expires. So you can already see that this is one of the administrations that will work till the last day.”

Perhaps, taking a cue from the President, some state governors, especially those who are to vacate office on May 29, are also awarding contracts and making appointments.

For instance, the outgoing Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, announced the employment of over 2,000 teachers. Some residents of the state expressed concern, saying it was ironic, especially for an administration that had been accused of non-payment of workers’ salaries for several months.