From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau
The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD) has affirmed that the reappointment of Fatima Shinkafi as the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) Executive Secretary by the president is in accordance with the provisions guiding the establishment of the agency.
Reacting in a statement issued by the Asst. Director of Information & Public Relations of the ministry, Mrs Ekwuga Chinwe and made available to newsmen in Gusau Zamfara State capital, to the controversy in certain quarters over the reappointment approved by President Bola Tinubu, the ministry asserted that no part of the SMDF act specifies a term limit for Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the agency.
“Our attention has been drawn to misinformation making the rounds in some quarters on the reappointment of Hajia Fatima Shinkafi as the Executive Secretary of SMDF, as approved by the President. The approval, done weeks ago, followed due process and aligns with the extant laws governing the agency, as well as the Nigeria Minerals And Mining Act (NMMA) 2007,”.
“Section 35(2) of the NMMA 2007 stipulates that the Executive Secretary shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development. No provisions on tenure limit exist in the act governing the agency. The act does not stipulate term limit for the chief executive. Therefore, her reappointment by the president is in order and does not contravene any law. “
