FUTMinna Pro-Chancellor Wants NCDC Appointments Reviewed, Says Niger, Kwara, Kogi Not ‘Fairly Treated’
Niger State APC bigwig, who is also the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Dr. Mohammed Santuraki, has picked holes in the decision taken by President Bola Tinubu in respect of the appointment of members of the Board and Executive Management of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) alleging ‘glaring imbalance’.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu on Thursday forwarded names of nominees for the newly established North Central, Southwest, and South South Development Commissions to the senate for confirmation hearings.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that Dr Santuraki , who gave his take on the issue in a statement he issued on Saturday, submitted that Niger State was not treated fairly as it only got one Non-Executive Director and one Executive Director positions despite the support given to the president during the 2023 presidential election.
Niger State, he added, delivered over 375,000 votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election noting that it was the highest in the North Central Zone and the sixth highest nationwide.
While noting that Niger State had sought to have the Commission’s headquarters located in the state but later conceded it to Nasarawa State in the interest of regional unity, this was not however without a quid pro quo as the state had expected to either produce the Managing Director/CEO or the Chairman.
‘So ,the long-awaited constitution of the Board and Executive Management of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) has now been completed. While Niger State has been allocated one Non-Executive Director and one Executive Director position, we believe—firmly and respectfully—that this falls far short of what the state justly deserves.
Niger State initially contested for the location of the NCDC headquarters alongside Nasarawa State. We graciously stepped down and conceded the Headquarters location to Nasarawa. Our expectation was clear: that this concession would be recognized through the allocation of at least one of the Commission’s two principal positions—either the Managing Director/CEO or Chairman. Disappointingly, we received neither.
This decision is not only unfair, but also undermines the delicate ethno-cultural diversity and political balance of the North Central region.
Both top positions and the Commission’s headquarters are now concentrated in the Benue-Plateau-Nasarawa axis, leaving the Niger-Kogi-Kwara-FCT bloc unrepresented at the highest levels’ he said.
Dr Santuraki also emphasized the need for a review of the appointments to ensure fairness.
‘Niger State has earned its place through loyalty, sacrifice, and contribution. We seek not favour, but fairness’ he submitted-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
