Jutha Gupah,
August 2, 2023.
The Arewa youths under the auspices of Northern Youths Right (NYOR); has petitioned against President Ahmed Tinubu over an alleged violation of the 2017 North East Development Commission (NEDC) Act.
The youths’ petition was sighted by The Guardian, which carries a stamp of receipt in the office of the Senate President, Sen, Godswill Akpabio on July 24, 2023.
According to the petition, its content dwells on the reconstitution and appointments of members to the Governing Board of the Commission for 2023.
The Commission (NEDC) was established in 2017 with the primary objective of addressing the humanitarian and developmental challenges faced in the Northeast.
The challenges have affected significantly by the Boko Haram insurgency and other forms of insecurity to lives and property.
The 2017 Act governing the establishment of NEDC, also outlines specific guidelines and procedures for the constitution of its Governing board.
According to NYOR’s petition, President Tinubu in his letter to the Senate on July 19, 2023, has, however, failed to adhere to the provisions of the NEDC establishment the 2017 Act in the reconstitution and/or appointment of members to the commission’s governing board for this year.
The youths, therefore, alleged that the Section of the Act of the Commission, Tinubu relied on the appointment of new members of the board, which does not even exist in the Act establishing the Commission.
“This has raised a lot of concerns about transparency, fairness, and regional representation in the Board,” alleged the youths in the letter.
The petition reads in part: “With great concern and disappointment we humbly note that the, “section 5, sub section (b)” mentioned by President Bola Tinubu in this said communication, and also read by you, does not exist in the NEDC Establishment the 2017Act.
“It is appalling that this mighty glitch would occur in the highest echelon of the leadership of our land.
“The reappointment of General Paul Tarfa (rtd) to the position of the Chairman of the board of the Commission is inconsistent with Section 5 and Second Schedule of the Act establishing NEDC. Therefore, this “reappointment stands wasted and of no effect whatsoever.”
The petition signed by the Chairman and Secretary of AYOR, Haruna Maikano and Raphael Terkua, was copied to the office of the President and his Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, all the 109 senators, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, all the six governors in the Northeast region, and Office of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
Besides the call for transparency and accountability in the selection process of the Commission’s board members, the petition warned that any deviation from the establishment guidelines, however, undermines the Commission’s purpose.
“It will also hamper the efforts in addressing the pressing developmental projects needed in insurgency affected region,” the petition further alleged.
The youths in the petition, made four-point prayers, including the Senate to declare that any action already taken from the contents of the letter are inconsistent with relevant laws/
The petition stated that any irregularities in the appointment process must be rectified to uphold public trust and confidence in the Commission’s ability to serve the needs of the people.
It could be recalled that ex-president, Mohammadu Buhari had appointed an acting governing board for the Commission at the tail end of his administration.
The appointments were, however, dissolved shortly after Tinubu took over as the inaugurated President of the country.
End.
