By Kokumo Goodie, Lagos, Nigeria
Dr. Eugene Ikemefun Juwah’s tenure as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) has come to an end.
This is in line with the provision of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 which stipulates a five-year term of office its Chief Executive Officer.
Juwah assumed office on July 29, 2010. It is unclear if he will however hand over as President Muhammadu Buhari, who has the power under the Act to appoint the EVC may not be favaourably disposed to approving a second term for Juwah.
Juwah was nominated on July 23, 2010, and assumed office on July 29, 2010, following his confirmation by the Senate. According to the Act, the Executive Vice Chairman can either be reappointed or not by the Federal Government.
According to Section 8 (2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, the executive board members of NCC which include its Board chairman, Eng Peter Igho, Juwah as EVC/CEO, Dr. Okey Itanyi Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, and Alhaji Mohammed Bintube as non-executive commissioner respectively.
It was gathered that the Igho-led Board held a special meeting on November 13, last year and noted the imminent expiration of the tenure of the board members after which a recommendation was made to the Presidency requesting for a second term of five years tenure for the board members.
The NCA states that: “Subject to 11 (3) and 11 (4) of the Act, each Commissioner shall serve for a term of 5 (five) years from the date of his appointment at the expiration of which the President may renew his term for a further period of five years and no more.”
Former Communications Technology Minister, Dr. Omobola Johnson, in a letter (vide HMCT/001/HS/Vol.1/123), which was a reply to a State House letter (vide Ref: PRES/68/CT/70) asking the minister to comment on the renewal of appointment of NCC Board members, stated that Section 8 (2) of the NCA 2003 limits the Board’s recommendations for appointment to the posts of chief executive and executive commissioners only.
“The appointment of the chairman and non-executive commissioners is therefore the prerogative of, and at the instance of, Mr. President. As such both the chairman and the minister are constrained from making explicit recommendations on these appointments,” Dr Johnson had noted.
