Tinubu returns NEMA, NAHCON to VP’s office, exempts NDLEA, NAFDAC Boards from dissolution
President Bola Tinubu has reversed the decision by his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari to remove the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) from the Vice President to the Presidency.
In an xecuitive Order signed, Tuesday, President Tinubu approved the return of NEMA and NAHCON to the Office of the Vice President for supervision, in compliance with their various establishment Acts.
The President has also approved a formal structure for the Office of the Vice President, as well as, an appropriate number of technical and administrative aides that will work with the Vice President in the discharge of his responsibilities.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has exempted the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration & Control (NAFDAC) from the announced dissolution of Boards of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government.
It would be recalled that Tinubu had Monday, approved the immediate dissolution of the Governing Boards of all Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions, and Government-Owned Companies in the exercise of its Constitutional Powers and in the Public interest.
In a press statement by the director information, Willie Bassey, for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said the dissolution does not, however, affect Boards, Commissions and Councils listed in the Third Schedule, Part 1, Section 153 (i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
“In view of this development and until such a time new boards are constituted, the Chief Executive Officers of the Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions, and Government-Owned Companies are directed to refer matters requiring the attention of their Boards to the President, through the Permanent Secretaries of their respective supervisory Ministries and Offices.
“Permanent Secretaries are directed, also, to route such correspondences to Mr President through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Consequently, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies are to ensure compliance to the provision of this directive which took effect from Friday 16th June, 2023.
“Permanent Secretaries are particularly directed to inform the Chief Executive Officers of the affected Agencies under the supervision of their respective Ministries/Offices for immediate compliance,” read the statement.
However, in a clarification issued, Tuesday, the President announced exempting the NDLEA and NAFDAC Boards from the directive.
“Further to the directive on the dissolution of Boards of Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions and Government-owned Companies, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has clarified that the Boards of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration & Control (NAFDAC) are exempted from such dissolution,” the statement read.