Northern Youth condemns gang-up against reappointment of AGF, Ahmed Idris

Northern Youth Assembly has condemned the criticism of reappointment of Accountant General of the Federation Alhaji Ahmed Idris by some labour unions and other groups of people working against the mantra of change of the present administration.

The youth assembly said though the AGF is already 60 years of age his reappointment is in consonance with political appointee as provided in the constitution.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Northern Youth Assembly Assistant National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Mohammed Hussaini Bauchi, on Sunday in Kano.

According to the statement, it is understood that they created political smokescreen designed to spark unnecessary confusion about an issue that is already constitutionally very clear, we feel duty-bound to set the records straight.

‘’His re-appointment for a second term in June last year, was predicated under S. 9(1),(2), (3) of the 1999 Construction where the President is empowered to appoint any person into any position of authority regardless of the age bracket, and therefore prompted the second appointment through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation then what is the fuss about  retirement age here?’’

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”Less we do not forget that section 171 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has provided to the President the powers to appoint a person of his choice as the Accountant General of the Federation for a tenure of four years in office, and such appointment may be renewed by the president, for another final tenure of four years.”

”It should be noted that the appointment of the AG, is made under certain political, public and Judicial officeholders.”

The statement said the question begging for an answer is this: what is the underlying agenda of this broad daylight campaigner against an appointee who has been passionate about his responsibility,  to the excitement of The Presidency, which ( in the first place) has the prerogative of appointing, removing him; reappointing him or replacing him outrightly?

According to the statement, ”it is surprising that these unions and groupings are fighting a lost battle against the AGF and their sponsors are chasing shadows and leaving the substance. If they are not out for cheap recognition or hiding behind a questionable campaign of calumny to secure the AGF’s office for their kinsmen, they should have done something more holistic in approach.

”For instance, why are they turning a blind eye to the overdue retirement of the nation’s service chiefs? Or is it because some of the service chiefs are from the Southern parts of the country? If we decide to check the actual retirement dates of senior civil servants especially CEOs of federal agencies (not the pretentious type they are indulged in at the moment) how many southerners would have been found to be overdue for retirement?” ‘

”Hence why waste resources and energy bickering over an AGF who is merely serving as a political appointee and you are trying to project him as a civil servant? If there are 200 Directors qualified to take his place, so what? Is that sufficient justification to stampede a hardworking appointee out of office? And those 200 Directors being bandied about, which part of the country are they from? We won’t be surprised to discover they are mainly from the South, since this is precisely the kernel of what the current campaign of stampeding the AGF is all about.”

The statement added that in the recent history of the Nigerian political journey, the current AGF was the only AGF who has through his professional expertise championed some reforms in the process of revenue collection, management and disbursement of public funds, by the institutionalizing a practical model which succeeded in blocking leakages, enhances transparency, accountability and openness in Government financial dealings, the reforms include Single Treasury Account, IPPS, and many more.