The number of dead people on the list of President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments to the boards of several government agencies and institutions is now eight — not two as reported on the first day of the announcement.
They are Francis Okpozo, a senator in the Second Republic, who died in December 2016 but was announced as Chairman of the board of the Nigerian Press Council; Christopher Utov, a Catholic Priest and founder of Fidei Polytechnic in Benue State, who died in March but was listed as a board member of the Nigeria Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER).
Donald Ugbaja, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, died in November this year, but he was appointed board member in the Consumer Protection Council (CPC).
Kabir Umar, the late Emir of Katagum in Bauchi State, died on December 9, but his name came up as a board member of the Federal Medical Centre, Azare, Bauchi.
Ahmed Bunza, former Sole Administrator of Jega Local Government Area of Kebbi State, died at Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, and was buried May 22; Magdalene Kumu from Taraba State was appointed into the National Film and Video Censors Board; Nabbs Imegwu, a former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Rivers State, was appointed to the board of the National Orthopedic Hospitals; Garba Attahiru, from Kaduna State, was appointed to chair the board of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.
The list, released on Friday, has attracted public opprobrium. Not only were the names of deceased individuals announced as appointees, the list also included names of persons of questionable integrity, such as Herman Hembe, the same Hembe that was sacked from the Federal House of Representatives.
Hembe represented Vandeikya/Konshisha federal constituency but the Supreme Court ruled that he was not the authentic candidate of the All Progressives Congress, as he had been defeated by Dorathy Mato, whom the court ruled should be take over Hembe’s former seat.
Appointed the Board Chairman of the Michael Imoudo National Institute for Labour Studies (MINLS), Hembe’s chequered personality dates back to his days as a university student.
Meanwhile, Garba Shehu, Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, explained that the list was compiled in 2015, hence the errors. He promised that the names of the deceased individuals ould be removed.
Also, the list of appointees featured duplication of functions as there were individuals who were appointed into more than one positions.
According to Premium Times, Sabo Nanono was appointed a member of the board of the National Agency for Science and Engineering, but his name was also mentioned as Chairman of the board of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation.
Again, Kabiru Matazu was appointed Chairman of FCT Universal Education Board and also appointed Chairman of the board of Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta; Umaymah Abdullahi was named on the board of Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri, as well as the Federal Medical Centre, Sokoto; Habiba Umar was appointed on the board of the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, and also the Federal Medical Centre, Birnin-Kebbi.