For more than ten weeks, newly appointed management teams of Nigeria’s 12 River Basin Development Authorities have pressed the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) for their appointment letters.
Despite being named to their positions on 18 December 2024, they have not received formal confirmation, preventing them from assuming their roles.
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Initially, many of the appointees visited the SGF’s office individually, travelling from different parts of the country to Abuja, only to return empty-handed.
However, frustration has grown, and in recent weeks, they have begun arriving in groups, staging a more coordinated effort to demand action.
Some appointees have been staying in hotels in Abuja since January, incurring significant costs while waiting for their letters.
The SGF’s office initially cited minor administrative errors as the reason for the delay, later providing specific dates when the letters would be ready. However, as those deadlines passed without resolution, concerns have deepened.
A source familiar with the matter said the delay has raised suspicion among the appointees, prompting their more assertive approach.
“It is hard to understand why the SGF’s office has failed to give the appointment letters to the members of the 12 River Basin Authority Boards, especially as this action is sabotaging the results the Tinubu administration expects from the river basins,” the source said.
Another insider suggested the issue goes beyond routine bureaucratic delays, noting that the appointments in question include managing directors and other key officials responsible for the daily operations of the River Basin Development Authorities.
“The significance of this lacuna is that the day-to-day management of these River Basin Authorities is hampered, as the role for which the river basins were created cannot be pursued optimally in the absence of the real management teams.”
River basins are crucial to Nigeria’s food security strategy, supporting farmers with research, infrastructure, technology, and market access.
They also oversee a significant portion of the country’s arable land and small-scale dams, essential for dry-season farming.
“Apart from ensuring sustainable water access for agriculture, the River Basin Development Authorities could stabilise Nigeria’s food supply, attract investment in the agricultural sector, create jobs in rural areas, and contribute to overall economic stability,” the source added.