The Federal Government of Nigeria has reversed its decision to appoint Mr. Shelmsudeen Babatunde Ogunjimi as Acting Accountant General of the Federation (AGF).
According to reports from Daily Trust, this move follows a directive from the Office of the Head of Service, which has granted an extension to Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, allowing her to continue in the role until March 2025.
Madein, who had previously been asked to retire, has now been permitted to extend her tenure, a decision that has caused confusion within the Accountant General’s office. Staff members remain uncertain about the current leadership, raising concerns over the handling of the position.
Criticism of Ogunjimi’s appointment has been swift, with many questioning the bypassing of senior officials in favor of his selection. Notably, Nigerian politician and activist Hajiya Naja’atu Mohammed has voiced concerns over the legality of the appointment. She pointed out that Ogunjimi, previously serving as a Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was transferred from the Accountant General’s office earlier this year. According to Mohammed, Ogunjimi’s reappointment lacked official documentation, and he was not the most senior official eligible for the role. She argued that senior staff members such as Danladi Comfort Zakowi, the current Director of Finance, or Luka Joshua, the Director of the CAD Department, should have been appointed in an acting capacity, in accordance with established protocols.
Furthermore, Mohammed claimed that Ogunjimi had resumed office prematurely, despite Madein’s continued tenure until March 2025. She alleged that Ogunjimi had used security personnel to prevent Mrs. Madein from accessing her office, suggesting that the Presidency was pushing for Ogunjimi’s appointment ahead of her official retirement.
In response, a spokesperson for the Office of the Accountant General dismissed the controversy, emphasizing that all directors within the office were qualified for the position. The spokesperson added that the selection of the Acting AGF was ultimately at the discretion of the President and that public service regulations did not mandate seniority as the sole criterion for appointment. According to this view, the President’s prerogative to appoint whoever he deems fit supersedes other considerations.
Despite the official defense, the situation has sparked ongoing debate about public service procedures, particularly regarding pre-retirement processes. Many have called for a pause on Ogunjimi’s appointment until Mrs. Madein’s term concludes.
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