Tinubu drops fresh graduate appointed FERMA board chair

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday directed the withdrawal of the nomination of 24-year-old Imam Kashim Imam, whom he recently appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, announced the decision in a statement he signed on Thursday titled ‘President Tinubu directs withdrawal of FERMA chairmanship nomination.’

On Friday, Tinubu reconstituted the Governing Board and Management team of FERMA for a renewable term of four years.

He appointed as Board Chairman Imam, son of Borno-born politician Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, who ran for the Office of Governor of his State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2003 and 2007, losing both times to the All Nigeria Peoples Party’s Ali Modu Sheriff.

Thursday’s withdrawal followed harsh criticism from some Nigerians who argued that Imam, though a first-class graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Brighton University in the UK, has no prior work experience.

Although the Presidency did not announce his replacement, it said the “withdrawal of the above-mentioned nomination is directed with immediate effect.”

“All other appointments to the Board and Executive Management team of FERMA are not affected by this directive,” the statement read.