Members of the reconstituted board of the 12 river basin development authorities (RBDAs) spread across the six geopolitical zones of the country can heave a sigh of relief over their quest for appointment letters.
The Nigeria Tribune learned at the weekend that President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate release of his letters.
This followed Nigeria Tribune's report last week that those appointed were yet to receive their letters of appointment more than a month after the presidency announced their names.
The concern sparked by bureaucratic bottlenecks that have apparently delayed the due process for the release of the letters was exclusively reported.
Last Friday, the president named board chairs for 42 federal organizations, secretary of the Civil Defense, Immigration and Prison Services Board.
He also appointed a new managing director for the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and a Director General of the National Board of Technology Incubation (NBTI), and warned the board chairmen against meddling in management operations, as their positions are not executive.
Recall that on December 18, the President approved the reconstitution of executive management teams for 12 RBDAs under the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
The new appointments were announced in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Those named as members of the agencies' new management teams had threatened to resume duty last week, after waiting weeks without official letters of their appointments.
Their action was prompted by a letter from an official of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources that the existing set of management teams of the agencies should remain in place until due process is carried out on the expected change of guard.
In the memorandum dated January 14, 2025 and addressed to the managing directors of the RBDAs, the Ministry said that all deliveries and taking over should take place after the newly appointed managing directors and executive directors would have received their letters. of appointment and fully documented with the ministry.
But those appointed did not agree with the authorities about the decision and announced their intention to resume their duties.
In a letter dated January 20, 2025 to the Minister of Water Resources, the appointees noted that President Tinubu exercised his power, appointing them as a set of management teams for the individual RBDAs.
According to them, the action became necessary “to alleviate any insinuation that they are probably not interested” in their appointment of President Tinubu to serve the country.
The letter was tagged: re: Appointment of the President, He Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on December 18, 2024 and notification of resumption of duty of the Executive Management of the River Basin Development Authorities (RBDA)
It read: “You kindly recall that the President, His Excellency, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tlnubu, graciously appointed us as the executive management team for the River Basin Development Authority on December 18, 2024, which of course lies within the power of his mandate and his command and The wisdom of his leadership.
“This is an opportunity that we have accepted as appointees and we are willing and ready to contribute our efforts to the renewed agenda of hope.
“Having waited endlessly without the letter of appointment, we have therefore resolved under the presidential announcement and authority superseding all other authorities within the institution, to resume official duty.
“With every sense of responsibility, duty and commitment to the renewed agenda of hope, we will proceed to the river basin authorities on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 to resume official duty in our offices to execute the task assigned to us By our President, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tlnubu.
“This is to alleviate any insinuation that we are probably not interested in the very important recognition of Mr. President to serve our Homeland and rapidly contribute our quota to the renewed agenda of hope.”
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