Anambra Imo River Basin staff reject MD’s reappointment

By Saby Elemba, in Owerri

• Saying it suspicious and unacceptable 

Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority (AIRBDA) which has its headquarters in Agbala,  Owerri North,  Imo State is one of the 12 River Basin Development Authorities established in 1976.

Some of its functions include provision of drinking water, hydroelectric power, erosion control, flood control, pollution control, food, etc. 

But in recent times, there has been an uneasy calm at the Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority (AIRBDA) headquarters, in Imo State.

This time, the establishment has been enmeshed in  crisis as the staff of the authority have rejected the purported reappointment of Gerald Osuagwu, an engineer as managing director of the Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority. 

The staff of the establishment protested over the reappointment of the managing director, whose first tenure expired on June 2, 2023, saying  that he should not be reappointed, because of his alleged administrative failure  and  his relationship with the workers.

The protesting staff gathered at the premises of the authority faulting the letter of reappointment allegedly signed by Boss Mustapha, the immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), on Sunday, 28th of May, 2023, authorising him to resume his second four year tenure on Saturday, June 3, 2023. The protesting workers alleged that the letter of the reappointment was “suspicious and unacceptable” to them.

According to them, they had expected that if the letter was authentic,  it would have emanated from George Akume, the newly appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). 

However, Osuagwu, in a swift reaction, said that the doubts and allegations by the workers were not tenable, insisting that he was recommended by the parent ministry of the agency before he was issued a reappointment letter and also  claimed  that he has been honoured with an award of being the best managing director among other River Basin agencies in the country, with track records of achievements.

According to him,  there was no need to handover to the most senior officer since his reappointment letter took care of the lacuna which would have been created had it been he was asked to wait.

Addressing the aggrieved workers, the state chairman of the Nigerian Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees (NUAAE), Oko Ibe-Enwo, said the union had taken over the matter, writing to the permanent secretary of the parent ministry (Federal Ministry of Water Resources), on 4th of June to clarify and authenticate the letter presented by Osuagwu, insisting that the union, resolved that the office of the MD, remained under “lock and key.”

Ibe- Enwo, who was accompanied by the branch union chairman of the agency, Nwabueze Ibeneme, among other members of the executive, said contents of the letter they sent to the permanent secretary include,  demanding that the issue of reappointment of Osuagwu be put on hold to avert further “tension from the management, staff and the host community.”

“We are unaware as it is unprecedented that letters conveying appointment or reappointment of MDs or EDs of RBDAs in the country now come directly from the SGF’s office and no longer through the FMWR (our supervising ministry) who are believed would have made recommendations for such appointments (in the first instance),” the letter said. 

They cited appointments and end of tenures of other MDs in other sister agencies in the country.

The union also insisted: “The implication of the hasty decision is that Engr G. O. Osuagwu, had two letters of appointment at the same time which we consider a fraudulent act.

“The council in session wishes to use this medium to appeal to the permanent secretary not to allow this ugly situation to tear our great establishment apart. We graciously request that the office of the MD remains under lock and key while the most senior ED continues to pilot the affairs of the authority pending when convincing answers are given/provided by the ministry to the obvious doubts the reappointment raising.

“The council in session resolved and begs that you use your good offices to direct that attempt at making the reappointment of Engr. G. O. Osuagwu, for a second term, is put on hold to avert tension from management, staff and host community”, the letter stated further. 

Osuagwu maintained that those against him were ignorant of the development, saying,  “I have a letter from the parent ministry recommending me for my tenure to be renewed at its expiration. Can the ministry recommend you and be against you? People are desperate. I have evidence to tender. I am going to substantiate my letters.”