President Bola Tinubu has approved the indefinite suspension of the Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, along with three Executive Directors of the agency.
This decision comes after a thorough investigation into the financial activities of the agency. In a statement released by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale,
The three suspended Executive Directors are the Executive Director of Corporate Services; Olaniyi Netufo, the Executive Director of Technical Services Barka Sajou, and the Executive Director of Rural Electrification Fund (REF) Sa’adatu Balgore.
The President has directed a broader investigation into the conduct of the suspended officials, particularly regarding allegations of fraudulent mis-expenditure totaling over N1.2 billion over the past two years. Some of these funds have already been recovered by anti-graft agencies.
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Following the suspension, Tinubu appointed five qualified Nigerians to serve in the agency’s new management team in an acting capacity. Abba Abubakar Aliyu was appointed as Managing Director/CEO, Ayoade Gboyega as Executive Director of Corporate Services, and Umar Abdullahi Umar as Executive Director of Technical Services.
Doris Uboh is the Executive Director of the Rural Electrification Fund (REF) and Olufemi Akinyelure is the Head of the Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Project.
The President urged the new appointees to uphold the highest standards of transparency and accountability in the discharge of their duties.
He also reiterated 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.
The Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is the Implementing Agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria tasked with electrification of rural and unserved communities. It has the mandate to Promote Rural Electrification in the Country, Co-ordinate Rural Electrification Programs in the country, and Administer the Rural Electrification Fund (REF) to promote, support, and provide rural electrification through Public and Private Sector Participation.
NAN
