Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Professor Mohammed Sani Haruna.
The move follows the discovery that the president had wrongly granted him a two-year tenure extension despite already completing two terms of five years each.
Director of Information in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Willie Bassey, disclosed the development in a statement issued Tuesday night.
According to the statement, Prof Haruna is to hand over immediately to the next most senior officer in the establishment.
“The President appreciates the contributions of Professor Haruna in the development of the engineering infrastructure sub-sector of the economy, and wishes him success in his future endeavours,” the statement read.
NASENI was established in 1992 to provide the required technological infrastructure for the development of a sustainable industrial base in Nigeria. It also promotes the acquisition of relevant technology for industries, institutions, and individuals involved in productive activities.
Prof Haruna’s tenure at NASENI was marked by significant achievements, including the commissioning of the first made-in-Nigeria transformer and the first made-in-Nigeria solar cells in 2020. Under his leadership, NASENI also established a partnership with the Nigerian Army to develop local military equipment.
However, his removal has sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians. Some have praised the president’s decision, noting that it is a step towards ensuring that public officials are held accountable for their actions. Others have criticised the move, arguing that Prof Haruna’s tenure had been characterised by significant achievements that had helped to position NASENI as a leading institution in the country.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
