Actors within the civil society community have appealed to the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and the Presidency to retain Gabriel Tanimu Aduda as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

The Executive Director, National Civil Society Council of Nigeria, Amb. Blessing Akinlosotu, at a press conference in Abuja, said Aduda had built enough capacity to handle affairs of a mainstream and sensitive Ministry.

He said, “We appeal to the Head of Service and the Presidency to urgently reconsider the redeployment, and retain Amb Gabriel Tanimu Aduda as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources for positive continuity.

“Aduda obviously has acquired remarkable experiences and built enough capacity to handle affairs of a mainstream and sensitive Ministry that is of great importance to the National Economy, which is clearly shown in his impressive performances in just one year.

“Staff of the Ministry have testified that they have never had such dynamic and results-driven leadership as his. We therefore do not understand why such impeccable track record should be sacrificed on the alters of political mediocrity in clear violation of all that the civil service holds dear by removing and replacing him with a first-time newly appointed Permanent Secretary and who has only one year to retire from service. What exactly could be the sinister motive for this unholy action?

“The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria has resolved to occupy the Office of the Head of Service and National Assembly indefinitely if our appeals fall on deaf ears.”

To this end, the Council opined that redeploying Aduda to another Ministry would mean Nigeria losing the seat of Chairmanship of OPEC Board of Governors in 2025