A coalition, the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN), has appealed to the Head of Service and the Presidency to reconsider the redeployment of Ambassador Gabriel Tanimu Aduda from his role as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The NCSCN’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Raymond Edoh, who addressed a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, said the development would make Nigeria lose the chairmanship of the OPEC Board of Governors in 2025 if it is not reconsidered.
To this end, Edoh disclosed that the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria had resolved to occupy the Office of the Head of Service and National Assembly indefinitely if its appeals fell on deaf ears.
The council argued that Aduda’s competence and experience, along with his outstanding achievements in just 13 months in office, qualified him to be very resourceful to the ministry and to Nigeria’s international standing in the oil and gas sector.
He said, “We appeal to the Head of Service and the Presidency to urgently reconsider the redeployment, and retain Amb Gabriel Tanimu Aduda as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources for positive continuity.
“Aduda has acquired remarkable experiences and built enough capacity to handle affairs of a mainstream and sensitive Ministry that is of great importance to the National Economy, which is clearly shown in his impressive performances in just one year.
“Staff of the ministry have testified that they have never had such dynamic and results-driven leadership as his. We therefore do not understand why such an impeccable track record should be sacrificed on the altars of political mediocrity in clear violation of all that the civil service holds dear by removing and replacing him with a first-time newly appointed Permanent Secretary who has only one year to retire from service. What exactly could be the sinister motive for this unholy action?
“He was unanimously appointed the Alternate Chairman for the OPEC Board of Governors for 2024 due to his pro-activity, pragmatism, and sterling leadership qualities hence, qualifying Nigeria for substantive Chairmanship of the Board of Governors in 2025 according to OPEC tradition.
“In addition, he is the current Board member representing Nigeria on the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) again the first ever Permanent Secretary to hold this position. Again he is the current Board Member representing Nigeria in the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) another first ever held by a Permanent Secretary.
“All these he achieved within one year in Office as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. Having served as Permanent Secretary for over 5 years running across OSGF and 3 Ministries with very impeccable results too numerous to mention.
“Moving Mr. Aduda away to another Ministry now would mean Nigeria losing the seat of Chairmanship of OPEC Board of Governors in 2025 as it is not hereditary or transmissible by Office amongst other things.
“On a final note, we appeal to the Head of Service and the Presidency to urgently reconsider this redeployment, and retain Ambassador Gabriel Tanimu Aduda as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources for positive continuity.
“The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria has resolved to occupy the Office of the Head of Service and National Assembly indefinitely if our appeals fall on deaf ears’’.