Three weeks after President Bola Tinubu announced the appointment of Dr Abdulrazak Namdas as Director-General of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA), the transition has yet to take effect, with the appointee still awaiting his formal appointment letter.
The delay has sparked uncertainty over the leadership of the agency, as the outgoing chief executive, Dr Dakorinama George, continues to perform official duties despite the Presidency’s announcement that Namdas would immediately take over.
On June 26, the Presidency, through a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced Namdas’ appointment, saying he would replace George, who had resigned to pursue an elective position in Rivers State. The statement specified that the appointment took immediate effect.
Despite the announcement, Namdas has not resumed office because the official appointment letter has not been issued. In the meantime, George has continued to represent the agency at official functions.
One such engagement took place on July 9, when George met with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, in Abuja to seek the release of funds for BCDA projects. During the meeting, George discussed ongoing infrastructure projects, a proposed $2 billion Chinese investment in a livestock processing hub in Jigawa State, and plans for a Border Communities Intelligence Corps.
The situation has raised questions about who currently has the legal authority to lead the agency.
Speaking on Trust TV, APC chieftain Hamman Yero questioned why Namdas had not received his appointment letter despite the President’s directive.
He argued that once the President approves an appointment, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) is responsible for implementing the decision by issuing the appointment letter. Yero questioned whether the delay reflected a failure to carry out the President’s directive.
The controversy has drawn comparisons with the leadership dispute at the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) in 2023, when conflicting developments over the appointment of Tola Odeyemi as Postmaster-General created uncertainty before the Presidency reaffirmed her appointment.
Sources within the BCDA alleged that George returned to the agency after withdrawing from the Rivers State governorship race and has continued to oversee its affairs. Some also claimed he enjoys political support within the administration. However, these allegations remain unverified, and one of George’s associates dismissed them as speculation.
Responding to the controversy, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga insisted that President Tinubu’s decision had not changed.
“As far as I know, the President has not changed his mind. Namdas remains the Executive Secretary of the agency,” Onanuga said.
He explained that the responsibility for issuing the formal appointment letter rests with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, adding that the Presidency had already communicated the appointment to the SGF.
Officials in the SGF’s office declined to comment substantively, saying they would only respond to a formal written inquiry. Efforts to obtain comments from George were unsuccessful.
Legal and governance experts said the episode highlights the importance of ensuring that presidential appointments are implemented promptly and transparently.
Constitutional lawyer Suraj Bamidele noted that while the President has the constitutional authority to appoint and remove heads of federal agencies, delays in implementing such decisions can create legal and administrative uncertainty.
Public affairs analysts also described the reported developments as raising concerns about coordination within government institutions if the allegations are confirmed.
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) criticised the situation, arguing that recurring controversies over federal appointments raise broader questions about governance and executive coordination. The opposition party urged the National Assembly to exercise its oversight responsibilities and called on the Presidency to clarify the status of the BCDA leadership.
As of the time of reporting, the Presidency maintained that Namdas remains the duly appointed head of the BCDA, although he has yet to receive the formal documentation required to assume office.