Appointment Of Acting DG Of NABDA By Minister Creates Tension In Agency

…As staff express discontent over leadership decision

There is palpable tension brewing at the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), over certain decisions by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology in relation to the leadership of the Agency.

Specifically, some staff members of the agency are contesting the reappointment of Professor Abdullahi Mustapha as Acting Director General, after completing a four-year term as Director General (DG).

The staff, argued that administrative protocol was not followed, as internal candidates within the agency were sidelined by deliberately disregarding civil service regulations.

Checks within the NABDA indicated that most of the senior administrative staff are displeased over such arrangement that did not follow procedure thus, expressed disapproval over Professor Mustapha’s renewed appointment.

The displease staff noted that NABDA’s existing staff, specifically the senior directors, were not considered for the role, despite having extensive experience and familiarity with the internal operations of the agency.

One of the staff who crave anonymity, explained that the civil service rules clearly specify and states that an acting position shall be filled by the most senior staff within an agency and not an external political appointee.

The source said; “We have nine senior directors who were all bypassed for an outsider. This appointment is a clear violation of the civil service rules”.

The letter from the office of Chief Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, which approved Professor Mustapha’s continued tenure as Acting DG, has therefore come under scrutiny as the staff raised issues concerning the legitimacy of the letter, stressing that it was not a properly sanctioned document.

Another source said; “The letter was sent to him via WhatsApp. That is unconventional in nature for such a critical appointment to be so communicated”.

The staff asserted that the NABDA is now in uncharted waters with this appointment, stressing that no other agency in Nigeria has witnessed such a procedural breach.

According to the staff; “We have never seen this before in the history of civil service. By all established guidelines, an acting Director General should be an internal candidate, not someone whose previous term has expired and was not renewed”.

The grievances of the staff were further compounded by the absence of financial support and welfare provisions under Professor Mustapha’s leadership, just as they contended that the agency’s centers located in the various states are severely underfunded, with some without overheads for some months for their operations.

It was gathered that the decentralization policy originally designed to grant the States’ centers some level of financial autonomy, have been stalled, thereby affecting service delivery and staff morale.

Furthermore, the staff expressed disappointment over Professor Mustapha’s approach to welfare, highlighting a lack of the traditional end-of-year bonuses and provisions.

“We have not received any form of welfare since he assumed office. This absence of staff support speaks volumes about his priorities. This situation has left many feeling neglected and demoralized, a sentiment that has rippled through the agency.

“Historically, NABDA, established under Nigeria’s biotechnology policies to spearhead research and development, is rooted in a structured, research-focused environment where leadership succession typically aligns with internal protocols,” the staff said.

Forefront News gathered that staff members are insisting that only scientific officers with experience in the agency’s mandate and its research initiatives should be considered for the role of Director General as appointing just anyone would jeopardize the core mandate, values and operational efficiency of the Agency.

It was also gathered that the staff member’s grievances are rooted in a broader concern over agency autonomy which when superimpose with the civil service rules, showed that an individual who is not an employee of an agency is only eligible for substantial Director General positions as against acting position.

“This appointment has stripped the agency of its autonomy, as it appears more politically motivated than merit-based. Prof Mustapha’s pursuit for an acting role is a maneuver to secure a renewal of his initial term of office which expired in October 2024.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, appointments like that of Mustapha’s were seen across various sectors just like similar appointments in the Nigeria Customs Service, where civilians without field experience were placed in command.

The frustration many Nigerians experienced then is similar to what the NABDA and its staff members are going through presently.

Towards this end, the staff of the NABDA are insisting on needed reforms and strict adherence to civil service protocols, saying they want to see an internal candidate who understands the internal workings, vision, culture and challenges of the Agency, steps in as acting Director General.

The concerned staff therefore appealed to the Federalm Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology to consider NABDA’s institutional integrity and the long-term interests of its staff and research centers.

As the controversy brews, some staff of the agency are considering other options such as taking their concerns to the National Assembly or other government oversight bodies to ensure due process as the present decision, they insisted, has set a precarious precedent for government agencies in Nigeria, particularly those with specialized mandates like biotechnology development.

“This goes beyond our immediate dissatisfaction. This is about establishing NABDA as an institution with integrity and respect for civil service rules,” another staff stressed.

However, in spite of the grievances, NABDA staff are hopeful that their collective voices will prompt a review of the appointment process, and restore confidence in the agency’s administrative procedures just as they contended that unless this situation is addressed, the integrity and performance of NABDA could be compromised, ultimately impacting Nigeria’s broader biotechnology objectives.

As the staff weigh their options, the situation at NABDA serves as a microcosm of the broader debate on transparency and adherence to civil service regulations within Nigerian agencies.