May assume duty on July 10, 2023
A devious plot conceived and hatched by a former Minister of Finance against Nigeria to circumvent and deny Nigeria of quality representation at the World Bank Group for several months and fraudulently nominating herself for the job has been uncovered.
Mrs Zainab Ahmed, who was the minister in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari up till May 29, 2023, has allegedly appropriated the position to herself without recourse to the Federal Government, Per Second News exclusively reports.
For “successfully’’ executing the shenanigan, Ahmed, during whose tenure Nigeria was plunged into N77 trillion debt both local and foreign borrowings, is set to take up the job on July 10, 2023 as an Alternate Executive Director, AED, barring any hitch, Per Second News.com reliably gathered in Washington, DC.
“What is interesting to know is how she dubiously appropriated the position to herself without recourse to the federal government, an official familiar with the matter confirmed the report to PSN on Sunday.
Investigations gathered by Per Second News revealed that the World Bank Group months ago wrote a letter to the government of Nigeria requesting for the CVs of at least three economists to fill a vacant position of the AED.
The letter was passed through the office of the Minister of Finance who hid the letter, thereby denying the federal government input into the nomination process.
A copy of the letter sighted by this newspaper showed that it was written months ago by the apex World Bank.
Shortly before the expiration of the Buhari administration, Zainab Ahmed, single-handedly nominated herself as the federal government’s candidate without the approval of the outgoing President and the incoming President Bola Tinubu.
Another brewing controversy is in the selection of staff to work with her as she has narrowed down to her aides when she was at the Ministry of Finance.
“Some of these aides are either too junior and in most cases lack the expertise and qualifications required by the World Bank, an officer of the bank disclosed in Washington.”
Per Second News gathered that a female (name withheld) who was at the Debt Management Office, DMO, a former director at IER, and two of her female aides are also currently being considered as part of her team.
The former minister will work out of the Office of the Executive Director (EDS25) known as Africa Group 3 Constituency, representing Angola, Nigeria and South Africa.
Zainab Ahmed will work under Ayanda Dlondlo, a South Africa who is the Executive Director (EDS25).
Per Second News reports that Executive Directors (or Alternates) fulfill a dual function, as officials of the Bank and as representatives of the member-country or countries that appointed them.
The Executive Directors are responsible for conducting the day-to-day business of the World Bank while an Alternate Executive Director has the full power to act for the World Bank Director when he or she is not present.
The staff of the EDS25 are committed to working with the 189 World Bank member countries to present a consensus on development issues.
The former minister’s media aide did not immediately respond to comments about the matter.
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