Federal Government has denied allegations of setting up a panel to reconstitute boards of parastatals.
Gatekeepers News reports that a statement signed by Director, Information, Willie Bassey from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OGSF) revealed this on Sunday evening.
In a report by Sunday Punch which reads: ‘FG sets up Panel to Reconstitute Boards of Parastatals’, the report claimed that
“…The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has set up an ad hoc committee to review the resumes of individuals who will fill board appointments, Sunday PUNCH reports.
“The ad hoc committee is currently being co-chaired by a former governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, and a former governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru.”
In reference to the report, The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, CON, has clearly refuted such claims and “wishes to state clearly that there is no truth in the story as published in the Sunday Punch neither has government set up any ad-hoc committee as alleged to review the resumes of individuals who would fill such board appointments as stated in the said publication.”
The SGF further clarified that “the visit of the two former Governors of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu and Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru, to his office on Friday had nothing to do with such adhoc committee. It has everything to do with their recent appointment as ministers.”
The statement also noted that “the reporter inaccurately quoted the Spokesperson of the OSGF as indicating that 14 agencies were stipulated to have been exempted. Whereas, the release in question at the time only recieved the President’s approval for two agencies- National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration & Control (NAFDAC).”
In conclusion, the SGF advised media personnel to verify information directly from authorized sources in his office, rather than relying on potentially inaccurate social media reports.
“In order to avoid inaccurate reporting, SGF admonishes media personnel to always cross-check information directly from authorized persons in his office rather than depending on some social media reports which may be inaccurate.”
