Jonathan Urged To Reverse Dr. Ahmed's Appointment As NVRI Boss

Source: FIRAUNA GOWASH. - thewillnigeria.com
PHOTO: PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN
PHOTO: PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN


JOS, Sept 26, (THEWILL) - Two former members of the House of Representatives, Messrs, Labar Wuyep and John Longhor have petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan over the appointment of Dr. M. S Ahmed as the new Executive Director of the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, near Jos.


Ahmed’s appointment was allegedly made solely by the Minister of Agriculture, Professor Sheik Abdullah without advertising for the job as stipulated by Section 2(2.1.3) (e) of the Conditions of Service for Federal Research Institutes, Colleges of Agriculture and Allied Institutions.

Dr. Adesoji Makinde, who was the most senior director was appointed in acting capacity pending the publication of internal and external advertisements to fill the position as the law stipulated but the minister was alleged to have forwarded Dr. Ahmed’s name to the Presidency for confirmation without following due process.


In the petition dated September 22 2010, the two former lawmakers who represented Mangu Bokkos and Pankshin/Kanke/Mikang Federal constituencies in the last legislative period, said that under the due process, the Minister should have directed the institute to advertise the position or better still the Ministry would advertised the position and the Agricultural Research Council is supposed to have conducted interviews for qualified and interested applicants after which three names would have been sent to the Presidency, where one person would be chosen in line with the due process mantra of the present administration.

The former lawmakers said that by forwarding the name of Dr. Ahmed without due process, the Minister would have misled the president into making a grievous error by not following due process of the law.

They regretted that the Minister had to take such a decision for an institute that is recognized as a sub regional foremost research institute for animal diseases for West and Central Africa where only the very best could be appointed without recourse to Section 2(2.1.3) (e) of the Conditions of Service for Federal Research Institutes, Colleges of Agriculture and Allied Institutions as approved by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation.

They said that the immediate import of the appointment was that it has robbed the institute of the opportunity to appoint a top vetenarian capable of commanding the professional respect of his colleagues to enable the director provide effective leadership that would build on the excellent foundation laid by the immediate past Executive Director.

The lawmakers contended that Ahmed is by far junior in the institution as the applicants were supposed to come from interested candidates within and outside the institute. They therefore urged the President to revisit the appointment of Ahmed in the interest of fairness, equity and justice.