Stakeholders, APC groups Accuse ARCN Boss Of Administrative Recklessness, Seek Presidential Intervention

Stakeholders and Support Groups have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the Executive Secretary, Agriculture Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Professor Garba Sharubutu, for alleged insubordination and abuse of office.

According to the stakeholders, Sharubutu has in the last 3 years shown high handedness in the management of agencies under his watch.

The most prominent out of the issues the ARCN Executive Secretary is facing is his handling of leadership issues surrounding the elevation and secret appointment of Mr. Kamal Rasheed as the Executive Director, National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM), Ilorin.

A letter addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha by the Coalition of all APC Support Groups on behalf of the stakeholders, a copy which was obtained by the medium, asked the President to investigate the appointment of Rasheed, which according to them was a breach of public service rules as well as administrative recklessness.

Noting that Rasheed was appointed despite failing an aptitude test in line with the public service guidelines, the stakeholders alleged that the gross misconduct started in November 2022, when the then Executive Director, Engr. Yomi Kasali, on the instructions of Sharubutu handed over to Rasheed, a junior director ahead of a senior director, Engr. Ademiluyi in line with civil service rules.

According to the letter jointly signed by Dr Awwal Ibrahim ( North Central Coordinator) , Dr Shamsudeen Abbashi( North West Coordinator) and Ottus Bernad (South South Coordinator) posited that asides the appointment and confirmation of a new Executive Director of NCAM without presidential approval, the ARCN boss was also said to have collected huge sums of money and 10 slots during the last recruitment exercise of NCAM in February, 2023.

The group said: “In line with the due process for Appointment of chief Executive for MDA’s the position of Executive Director of National centre for Agricultural mechanization (NCAM) was advertised, Aptitude Test was conducted, the dean faculty of Agriculture University of Abuja score the highest percentage 77 percent in the Aptitude test and participated in the interview and also performed excellently.

“Engr Kamal AbdulGafar Rasheed who scored 45 percent was which was far below average score gatecrashed the interview in the conducted on 17th April 2023, at the ARCN headquarters, Mabushi, Abuja.

“Disgracefully on 18th April, 2023, the Executive Secretary ARCN handed over the letter of Appointment to the Engr Kamal who scored the lowest mark.”

The stakeholders also vowed to resist the illegality and injustice done by Sarubutu to one of them who have contributed immensely to the realisation of the objectives that inspired the federal government establishment of the centre.

They demanded the immediate reversal and removal of the ARCN Executive Secretary as they are ready to take all legal steps to address the issue.