President Bola Tinubu has taken decisive action by indefinitely suspending the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency, Ahmad Salihijo, and three Executive Directors. The decision was made following the emergence of new findings during a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of the Rural Electrification Agency, as disclosed in a statement signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
The suspended officials include the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Olaniyi Netufo; Executive Director, Technical Services, Barka Sajou; and Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund, Sa’adatu Balgore. The investigation centers on alleged fraudulent misexpenditure amounting to over N1.2 billion over the past two years, with some funds already recovered by anti-graft agencies.
In response to these developments, President Tinubu has ordered a broader investigation into the conduct of the suspended officials. The statement emphasized that the President expects all appointees in his administration to uphold the highest standards of transparency and accountability in the discharge of their duties.
To ensure the continuity of operations at the Rural Electrification Agency, President Tinubu has appointed a new management team to serve in acting capacity. The newly appointed officials are Abba Aliyu as Managing Director/CEO, Ayoade Gboyega as Executive Director, Corporate Services, Umar Umar as Executive Director, Technical Services, Doris Uboh as Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund, and Olufemi Akinyelure as Head of Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Project.
The statement concluded by emphasizing the President’s commitment to fulfilling the yearnings of Nigerians for good governance and qualitative service delivery, prioritizing the public interest over individual interests in the administration.
