President Bola Tinubu has decided to withdraw the nomination of Engr. Imam Kashim Imam, a 24-year-old, for the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA). This unexpected move by the President comes just days after the appointment was announced.
The decision to revoke the nomination was made public through a State House press release issued earlier today. The press release stated that President Tinubu directed the withdrawal of Engr. Imam Kashim Imam’s nomination “with immediate effect.”
While the President’s statement did not provide explicit reasons for the withdrawal, it emphasized that this directive does not impact any other appointments to the Board and Executive Management team of FERMA. This suggests that the rest of the appointments remain intact despite the Chairman’s nomination being withdrawn.
Imam Kashim Imam’s nomination had generated significant attention and controversy, given his young age and relative inexperience in the field. The President’s initial decision to appoint a 24-year-old to such a prominent position raised questions about his qualifications and ability to lead an agency tasked with maintaining and repairing federal roads across the country.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, released the statement on behalf of President Tinubu. The decision to withdraw Imam Kashim Imam’s nomination will likely raise further discussions and debates about the selection process for top government positions and the importance of experience and qualifications in such appointments.
