The Federal Government has reportedly withdrawn the appointment of Mr. Shelmsudeen Babatunde Ogunjimi as Acting Accountant General of the Federation (AGF).
According to Daily Trust, the former AGF, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, who was earlier asked to retire, will now continue in the role until March 2025.
This decision came after the Office of the Head of Service sent a letter allowing Madein to stay in office.
The move has caused confusion within the Office of the Accountant General, as staff are unsure who is in charge.
Critics have questioned Ogunjimi’s appointment, saying it ignored more senior officials who were next in line.
They also pointed out that Ogunjimi had been transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was not supposed to return without proper approval.
Nigerian politician and Activist, Hajiya Naja’atu Mohammed alleged: “In what has remained very curious, the Presidency in collaboration with the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, illegally appointed Ogunjimi Shamulsedeen, a Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as Acting Accountant General, after forcing Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein to go on retirement and bypassing two Northerners who were by law next in line to take over in acting capacity if the AGF is not available.
“A circular dated 3 September, 2024, had posted Shamuseldeen, a director in the OAGF, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. No circular had reposted him back to the OAGF and he is not the most senior to take over in the event the AGF is retiring or leaving. Danladi Comfort Zakowi, who is the current Director of Finance or Luka Joshua, Director of CAD Department, would have taken over in Acting Capacity. This didn’t happen.
“Another curious twist is that while Mrs Madein is only due to proceed on retirement leave in March 2025, Shamulsedeen has already resumed and has been using policemen to prevent Mrs. Madein from entering the office, confirming insinuation that someone in the Presidency is pushing Shamulsedeen to take over the OAGF.”
Reacting to the allegations, Mokwa told Daily Trust that the controversy on the appointment was needless as any of the directors were qualified for stated executive positions and that it is at the discretion of Mr President to make a choice and pick whoever he preferred.
Public service rules, which require officers to follow a pre-retirement process, added to the dispute.
The Presidency was advised to pause Ogunjimi’s appointment until Madein finishes her term.
