Barely few weeks after removing the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) from the purview of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and subsequent removal of its Director-General, Aliyu Aziz, the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has directed the removal from office of Chief Executives Officers of the nation’s telecommunications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) and the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigComSat) Limited.
While other Agencies under the Ministry retain their CEOs, NCC’s Umar Garba Danbatta has been replaced by Aminu Maida. Nkechi Jane Egerton-Idehen takes over the reign of NigComSat from Tukur Mohammed Lawal Funtua, while NIPOST’s Post-Master-General/CEO, Sunday Adepoju steps down for Tola Odeyemi.
In a State House Release signed by the Special Adviser to the President, Chief Ajuri Ngelale on Wednesday, the President, who noted that the new appointments take immediate effect, also announced the appointment of Idris Alubankudi as Special Adviser to the President on Technology and Digital Economy.
The statement from the President also affirmed the retention of the DG / CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, and the National Commissioner / CEO, Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, but was however silent on the fate of the top executive of Galaxy Backbone, Prof. Muhammad Abubakar.
The Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy comprises of six (6) independent Agencies namely the NCC, NigComSat, NITDA, Galaxy Backbone, NDPC and NIPOST. The federal government recently moved the supervision of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) from the Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, to the Ministry of Interiors
Danbtatta was appointed by former President Buhari in August 2015 to serve a five-year tenure which elapsed in 2020.
He was reappointed by Buhari and was confirmed by the Senate in July the same year for another five-year tenure, which would have lapsed in 2025.
Former NigComSat CEO, Engr. Tukur Mohammed Lawal Funtua was appointed in December 2022 while Sunday Adepoju was appointed by President Buhari in October 2022 as NIPOST PMG before his recent replacement.
Before their appointments:
NCC – Aminu Laida – Executive Director, Technology & Operations at Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS)
NigComSat – Nkechi Jane Egerton-Idehen – Country Manager, Nigeria/Regional Sales Manager, West Africa, Avanti Communications Group PLC.
NIPOST – Tola Odeyemi – Head of Govt. Relations, West Africa, Binance
