President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made a series of high-profile appointments, assigning 19 state chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC), along with the party’s National Publicity Secretary and other officials, to leadership positions on federal government boards.
This move is seen as part of his broader strategy to strengthen the party’s hold on governance while ensuring loyalists oversee key institutions.
The appointments were confirmed in a statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, today in Abuja.
According to Onanuga, these appointments align with Tinubu’s commitment to revitalizing federal agencies and institutions with experienced individuals from the ruling party.
Key Appointments
Among the notable appointments, APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, was named as the Board Chairman of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), a critical institution responsible for national broadcasting and public communication.
In addition, Hon. Fatuhu Buhari, a prominent politician from Katsina State, was appointed as the Director-General of the National Agricultural Seed Council, an agency tasked with regulating seed quality and ensuring food security in Nigeria.
The appointments also saw numerous APC state chairmen assume leadership positions in various federal government institutions. Some of the key figures include:
- Muhammad Massan (APC Chairman, Bauchi State) – Board Chairman, Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, Ilorin.
- Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas (APC Chairman, Kano State) – Board Chairman, Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service.
- Dr. Austian Agada (APC Chairman, Benue State) – Board Chairman, National Agricultural Seed Council.
- Hon. Macdonald Ebere (APC Chairman, Imo State) – Board Chairman, Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Lagos.
- Ubong Stephen Ntukekpo (APC Chairman, Akwa Ibom State) – Board Chairman, National Institute for Freshwater Fish, New Bussa.
- Chief Emma Eneukwu (APC Deputy Chairman, South) – Board Chairman, National Automotive Development Council.
- Aminu Musa Bobi (APC Chairman, Niger State) – Board Chairman, National Library of Nigeria.
- Pharm. Abass Olayide (APC Chairman, Oyo State) – Board Chairman, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Kaduna.
- Alhaji Mohammed Gadaka (APC Chairman, Yobe State) – Board Chairman, Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre.
- Benjamin Omale (APC Chairman, Benue State) – Board Chairman, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu.
- Rufus Bature (APC Chairman, Plateau State) – Board Chairman, Nigerian Coal Corporation.
- Alhaji Abubakar Muhammed Kana (APC Chairman, Kebbi State) – Board Chairman, Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies.
- Hon. Donatus Nwankpa (APC National Working Committee Member, Abia State) – Board Chairman, Project Development Institute (PRODA).
- Comrade Mustapha Salihu (APC National Vice Chairman, Northeast) – Board Chairman, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
- Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu (APC Chairman, Abia State) – Board Chairman, National Parks Headquarters.
- Alhaji Abdulmalik Usman (APC Chairman, Federal Capital Territory) – Board Chairman, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan.
- Hon. Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi (APC Chairman, Taraba State) – Board Chairman, Environmental Health Registration Council of Nigeria.
- Sola Elesin (APC Chairman, Ekiti State) – Board Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences.
- Emperor Jarrett Tenebe (APC Chairman, Edo State) – Board Chairman, Federal College of Agriculture, Akure.
- Alhaji Tukur Umar Danfulani (APC Chairman, Zamfara State) – Board Chairman, Federal Medical Centre, Azare.
- Hon. Aminu Sani Gumel (APC Chairman, Jigawa State) – Board Chairman, Federal College of Produce Inspection and Stored Products Technology, Kano.
- Barr. Idris Shuaibu (APC Chairman, Adamawa State) – Board Chairman, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Ibadan.
Political and Governance Implications
These appointments come at a time when the Tinubu administration is focused on consolidating its governance strategy amid ongoing economic and political challenges.
Political analysts view this as a means of rewarding party loyalists and ensuring that APC stalwarts play key roles in driving the government’s policies and programs.
Critics, however, have raised concerns over the potential politicization of federal institutions, arguing that appointments should be based on merit rather than party affiliation.
Opposition parties and civil society organizations have urged the president to ensure that appointees deliver on their mandates effectively rather than serve political interests.
Strengthening APC’s Influence
For the APC, this move is likely to reinforce party cohesion and reward loyalists who have contributed to its electoral successes. With many of the appointees being state chairmen, their influence at the grassroots level could translate into stronger party structures ahead of future elections.
Some political observers believe that the appointments will enhance governance efficiency by placing experienced politicians in charge of key sectors, while others argue that it could create a situation where federal institutions are controlled primarily by party figures rather than technocrats with specialized knowledge in their respective fields.
Furthermore, these appointments may also play a role in setting the stage for the 2027 elections, as the APC seeks to consolidate its dominance at both the state and national levels.
By integrating state party leaders into strategic government positions, the administration could be securing loyalty and coordination that may prove beneficial in future political campaigns.
As these appointments take effect, all eyes will be on the appointees to see how effectively they manage their respective institutions.
Nigerians will be watching closely to ensure that these key agencies function optimally in delivering essential services to the public.
President Tinubu’s administration continues to face pressure to balance political considerations with governance efficiency, and these appointments will be a test of how well his administration can manage both priorities.
With Nigeria’s economy requiring strong leadership in key areas such as agriculture, health, and infrastructure, the success of these appointments will ultimately be judged by their impact on national development.
