Stakeholders warn against politicisation of Nigeria’s Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research

Admin I Wednesday, April 03, 2024

 

LAGOS, Nigeria – The Marine Research Group (MRG), a stakeholder in the marine economy, is concerned about the politicisation of the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) functions.

Dr. Bridwell Ruseh, President of MRG, stated that NIOMR has made significant progress in its development and the sector’s overall growth in Nigeria.

The group praised the current leadership for the enormous progress made by the research institute, which has been witnessed by several groups and observers.

MRG stated that, while the research institute’s growth is commendable, several individuals worked to distort the existing rule of law in the selection of the ED/CEO of the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research, which is located on Victoria Island in Lagos and overseen by the Agriculture Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

Interestingly, MRG admitted that the agency was originally under the Ministry of Science and Technology before being transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture and is now under the Ministry of Blue Economy, which may have been one of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s best decisions for efficient service delivery.

Dr. Ruseh also stated that President Tinubu’s authority as Commander-in-Chief exceeds any act or tenure law governing who leads an agency as Chief Executive Officer, Director General, or Executive Secretary, whether as a first-term officer or by renewing the seat.

According to Dr Ruseh, President of MRG, a research specialist group, “there are incorrect impressions that some faceless groups and strange writers are rubbishing the power of the institute,” stating that “by now, ARCN is supposed to have advertised the position for eligible officers to apply,” but they have not.

The group explained that the anonymous writers may not understand the acts that established agencies such as the NIOMR and others, giving Tinubu enormous power to extend or renew any CEO’s tenure for the period under consideration.

According to Ruseh, “In every society, the President selects men who he believes can carry out his administration’s mandate to improve the lives of citizens and, as a result, improve the agencies for effective delivery, emphasising the importance of selecting and putting experts with extensive knowledge of every establishment in charge.”

Ruseh explained that the Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research is a specialist field that requires experienced professionals to carry out President Tinubu’s mandate, as opposed to a political party office.

“The president has the authority to appoint whoever he wants, and the CEO’s tenure and the agency’s transfer to the Ministry of Blue Economy have nothing to do with a writer’s fantasy designed to tarnish the character of the President.

“The false reports are being made to seek a second term extension and facilitate the institute’s transition from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, which is a bad wind that will distort NIOMR’s progress and giant strides,” Ruseh stressed.