There were dramas across some agencies under the Federal Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism that the tenure of their heads expired mid-night on Wednesday 31st, 2021 as they were directed to hand over to the most senior director in their respective agencies since the ministry was yet to receive any communication from President Muhammadu Bahari, who is on medical trip to the UK on the renewal of their appointments.
The situation was so dramatic at the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation [NTDC], when what was similar to what happened in 2016 that the NTDC had 3 heads in quick succession, when the outgoing director-general, Folorunso Coker handed over to Ovie Richards who is the second-highest ranked director.
Though Fibi Ikilama is the highest-ranked director, sources closed to the NTDC and the ministry said that because she’s under disciplinary investigation, she cannot be trusted with the leadership of the agency, hence the directive to the outing head to handover to the next person to her, who is the Director of Finance.
Other affected Chief Executive Officers are Tar Ukoh of the National Troupe of Nigeria; Adedayo Thomas of the National Film and Video Censors Board [ÑFVCB], that were appointed on March 31st, 2017, and their four years first term tenure ended on Wednesday.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation [NFC], Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, a medical doctor got his tenure renewed in February 2021 before the end of his tenure.
Meanwhile, the fate of Otunba Runsewe, Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture [NCAC] is still unknown because of the delay in his resumption date because according to sources, the former head of the NCAC did not hand over to him for over a month that has given him extra time in office beyond March 31st.
Opinion across the industry was unanimous as many welcome the exits of Folorunso Coker, saying there was the need to save the industry from a lackluster leader and the last four years under him can be written off as bad years.
By Lucky Onoriode George