NEDC board: CSO gives 3 days notice to sue Buhari

A coalition of civil society organisations has threatened to sue President Muhammadu Buhari if he doesn’t reverse the appointment of board members of the North East Development Commission (NEDC).

The CSOs also demanded the reversal of the appointment of the managing director of the NEDC because it contravenes the provisions of the Nigerian constitution.

The CSOs made the call in an address signed by the Secretary, Coalition of Civil Society Groups, Abubakar Ibrahim; President, First Alliance Group, Olumide Kingsley Egbeola; Convener, Centre for Public Accountability, Akindele Oluwafemi; President, African Leadership Strategy & Transparency Development Initiative, Nelson Osaize; and President, Northern Nigeria Good Governance Forum, Ibrahim Sule.

In the address read during a press conference held in Abuja, the coalition said Buhari’s directive to bypass the Senate’s confirmation of the board and MD of NEDC was a deliberate affront on the constitution and subverting the process of appointing public office holders, therefore, declared it is unconstitutional.

The coalition said: “Our attention has been drawn to the recent unconstitutional role played by Mr President in the recent appointment he did barely few days to handover.

“We are worried that, why the hurry in confirming an appointment made by him without the senate ratifying same as laid down by appointment procedure stated in Section 147 of the constitution, that such appointments made by President and not confirmed by the Senate shall be null and void.”