Reappearance of Bayo Onanuga at NAN headquarters sparks protest in Abuja

ABUJA, Nigeria – Workers of the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN)  are angry. They are angry that their Managing Director, Mr. Bayo Onanuga is on his way back to the agency he has led in the past 4 years.

Bayo Onanuga’s  tenure expired on Saturday, May 25, 2019 and he  handed over to the Editor-in-Chief, Idris AbdulRahman. Soon after he left, allegations started flying over the media about his alleged misappropriation of funds during the period he heldsway as MD.

Major stakeholders, namely, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, (NUJ), Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), Radio Television Theatre and Art Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) and the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporation and Government Owned Companies, (SSACGOC) have all accused him of misappropriations, among which is alleged auctioning  of cars belonging to NAN underground and misappropriating donations received for NAN’s 40^th year-anniversary.

In a letter addressed to the Secretary to the federal government, Mustapha Boss, and copied the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, the stakeholders accused him of all of the following:

“Selling of official vehicles to himself and loyal management staff through a dubious auction process that grossly violated FGN Financial Rules. Using consultants to intimidate any officer perceived to be against his policy through promotion Exam.

“Inability to provide or pay rents of several state offices, including Port Harcourt Zonal Office, Lafia, Yenagoa, Birnin Kebbi and Jalingo, despite the revenue of more than Four Hundred Million Naira (N400m) IGR accrued to the Agency and the Three Hundred and Twenty-One Million Naira (N321M)  bail out approved and released to the Agency by President Muhammadu Buhari.  Unilateral dismissal of staff and suspensions without salary contrary to civil service rules and regulations. “We challenge ICPC & EFCC to probe the two NAN Bizcom Accounts used in diverting government revenue: 1 Access Bank 0016628258 and Zenith Bank Account 1012782058,” the letter read in part.

Bayo Onanuga has also denied all these allegations stressing that he brought innovation to NAN and that he is not afraid of anti-graft agency.

However, while workers were celebrating his departure, Onanuga suddenly reappeared at the office on Monday with  a memo he personally signed and entitled: “Am Back . I shall remain in charge of the agency until the federal government and President Muhammadu Buhari, my employers rule otherwise. My tenure remains intact.”

It was the memo that sparked protest in the office. The protesters who carried placards with various inscriptions: “Onanuga’s tenure has expired PMB Sack Him Now,” “No Reappointment For Onanuga,”  and “PMB Please Save NAN now”.