President Bola Tinubu has taken decisive action in the wake of a financial scandal involving the Rural Electrification Agency, as he suspends the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ahmad Salihijo, and three Executive Directors indefinitely. The suspension comes after a comprehensive investigation into the agency’s financial activities revealed new findings. Tinubu has ordered a broader probe into the officials’ conduct, addressing a fraudulent misexpenditure of over N1.2 billion over the past two years. The President has appointed a new acting management team, emphasizing the commitment to transparency and accountability in governance.
The suspended officials include Ahmad Salihijo (Managing Director/CEO), Olaniyi Netufo (Executive Director, Corporate Services), Barka Sajou (Executive Director, Technical Services), and Sa’adatu Balgore (Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund). The wider investigation aims to assess the alleged financial misconduct, some of which has already been recovered by anti-graft agencies.
In response to the situation, President Tinubu appointed an acting management team to oversee the affairs of the Rural Electrification Agency. Abba Aliyu assumes the role of Managing Director/CEO, supported by Ayoade Gboyega (Executive Director, Corporate Services), Umar Umar (Executive Director, Technical Services), Doris Uboh (Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund), and Olufemi Akinyelure (Head of Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Project).
This move underscores President Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring good governance and quality service delivery, prioritizing the welfare of Nigerians over individual interests within his administration.
