Lack of Presidential approval stalls research Institutes bosses’ confirmation

Chief Audu Ogbeh

 Twelve months after conduction of interview for the posts of Executive Directors of eight agricultural research institutes, the final approval on the part of the President may have hindered the confirmation of successful candidates sent to him by the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh.

Food Farm News confirmed that the name of the successful candidate for each Institute had been sent from the office of the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Ogbeh while presidential approval is still pending.

Among the affected Institutes are National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, National Veterinary Research Institute (VOM) Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) and National Research Institute for Fresh Water Fishery, New Busau, Niger state.

The others are Federal College Veterinary Medical/ laboratory Technology (Vom), Federal College of Fresh Water Fishery Technology, Baga and Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria, Benin City, Edo state. 

Stakeholders see the non-confirmation of the executives as a threat to food security as the acting executives would not give their best because of the insecurity of their appointments.

Our check to the Villa could not confirm whether such names from the agricultural research Institutes have got to the table of the Mr. President who is presently abroad for medical treatment.