Tinubu fires NASENI Boss, appoints successor

Three months after his appointment as substantive Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI, Dr Bashir Gwandu has been sacked by President Tinubu.

Dr Gwandu was appointed into office by the Muhammadu Buhari administration in May this year.

The termination of his appointment was made known in a statement Friday, by the Special adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

According to the statement, President Tinubu who is the Chairman of the Governing Board of NASENI, has approved the appointment of Khalil Suleiman Halilu as the new EVC/CEO of the agency.

By his appointment, Halilu is to serve for an initial term of five years in accordance with the relevant sections of the NASENI Act, 2014.

The statement further revealed that the new CEO is expected to bring his significant experience as an innovator and technology expert to bear in this important new national assignment.

“The tenure of Dr Bashir Gwandu as EVC/CEO of NASENI is hereby terminated.

“By the directive of the President, this appointment takes immediate effect,” the statement declared.

Gwandu had taken over the helms of the agency following the expiration of the 10-year tenure of five years each of the former EVC/ CEO of the Agency, Engr. Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna in April 2023.

In another story, The Department of State Security (DSS), Ogun State command, on Friday detained a suspended chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The suspended chairman whose name is Wale Adedayo, was arrested for accusing the ste governor, Dapo Abiodun of diversion of councils’ allocations.

According to sources, Adedayo had accused the governor of withholding local government funds in the last two years without remitting any to the local governments despite their low levels of development.

Following an invitation by the DSS, Adedayo was at the agency’s Abeokuta office on Friday, to respond to queries about the allegations.

This was not the first time the suspended chairman would be invited by the DSS on the same issue as he was also at the DSS office on Thursday on the same matter.

He was however detained on Friday, according to kne of his aides who also said that Adedayo may likely spend weekend in the custody.

According to the aide, “We got here together and I took his phone and stood outside, since then he has not been allowed to come out.

“After he got into the place, the governor also came into the DSS office and left after over 30 minutes. Only God knows what is happening to my boss right now, please help us. This is 8:34 pm and he has still not been allowed to come out.”

While no further public statements have been made regarding the suspended chairman’s detention, his allegations against Governor Dapo Abiodun remains unattended to and would most likely pend till better attention is given.

The whole scenario however, raises concerns over the issue of accountability on the side of most government officials across the nation.

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