Exposed: How Nigeria’s ex-Finance Minister appropriated World Bank job to herself-Report

Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, has reportedly executed a devious plot to nominate herself to fill a World Bank position meant for the country.

A report by an online newspaper, Per Second News (PSN), said that Mrs Ahmed deliberately circumvented the process using her position as minister to hold down the position for months (since November last year) to enable her nominate herself and foist a fait accompli on the Workd Bank Group.

PSN, in its report published on Sunday, stated that by her action, Nigeria was denied the opportunity to present an Economist of a high quality to fill the position of an Alternative Executive Director in the apex global bank.

According to the report Nigeria was denied of quality representation at the World Bank Group for several months due to the minister’s decision not to expeditiously respond to a letter hy the Workd Bank Group requesting Nigeria to send her nomination.

The report inisinuated that the former minister might have dilated the process in a conscious bid to cleverly nominate herself for the job as she had since done, preparatory to resumption of office anytime soon consequent upon the formalisation of her appointment in June this year.

Mrs Ahmed allegedly appropriated the position to herself without recourse to the federal government, Per Second News stated in its exclusive report.

Read further the PSN report: “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 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 enable a selection process) 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’s input into the nomination process.

“A copy of the letter sighted by this newspaper showed that it was written months ago by the World Bank.

“Shortly before the expiration of the Buhari administration, Zainab Ahmed, single-handed nominated herself as the federal government’s candidate without the approval of the outgoing President (Muhammadu Buhari, who was in the twilight of his administration) and the incoming President Bola Tinubu, (who has since May 29, received the baton from Buhari as the substantive president of Nigeria).”

The PSN report also indicated another potential controversy around the unilateral filling of the position by the former minister

“Another brewing controversy is in the selection of staff (members) to work with her as she has narrowed (the selection) 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 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) fulfil 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 (members) 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.” Per Seconds News