Presidenti Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of Zainab Ahmed as the new Minister of Finance has generated a flurry of reactions from Nigerians.
According to a Friday statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Ahmed was appointed after Mrs Kemi Adeosun resigned her position.
“President Muhammadu Buhari Friday accepted the resignation of the Hon. Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun. The President thanked the Minister for her services to the nation and wished her well in her future pursuits.
“The President also approved that the Minister of State Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, should oversee the Ministry of Finance with effect from today,” the statement read.”
Read Also: President Buhari accepts resignation of Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun
Adeosun had been enmeshed in an NYSC certificate forgery scandal for weeks before her eventual resignation.
In her resignation letter forwarded to the president, Adeosun said, “I have, today, become privy to the findings of the investigation into the allegation made in an online medium that the Certificate of Exemption from National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) that I had presented was not genuine.
“This has come as a shock to me and I believe that in line with this administration’s focus on integrity, I must do the honourable thing and resign.”
Ahmed before her new appointment was the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning.
The 58-year-old is also a former Exective Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in Kaduna, where she was born, and an MBA from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.
But Nigerians have taken to social media to express their opinions on the appointment, with many commentators unconvinced about her suitability for the job and the propriety of her appointment.
See reactions:
Yesterday, Matthew Seiyefa (most senior DSS official) was fired as the DSS DG & replaced with Yusuf Bichi, who was retired. Abbas Masanawa was named the Head of Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC). Now, Zainab Ahmed has been named Finance Minister.
Sai Buhari.
— World Publicist (@IsimaOdeh) September 14, 2018
Your hue and cry about Buhari’s tribalism isn’t changing anything. The man has appointed Zainab Ahmed to oversee the country’s finance ministry. He trusts Zainab over Udo Udoma who is Zainab’s boss and who has for 3 years worked more closely with Kemi more than any other minister
— Kúfré'Abasi (@Koophreh) September 14, 2018
Let's be counting it oo.
Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former Minister for Solid Minerals (Southwest) resigned but up till now Abubakar Bawa Bwari (North) is still the Minister.
NOW
Kemi Adeosun, former Minister for Finance (Southwest) resigned but Zainab Ahmed (North) is replacing her.
— Boladale Adekoya (@Adekoyabee) September 14, 2018
Zainab Ahmed!!!!!! Another recession loading………..
— Thεό Abu Gbasky (@Shalomttheo) September 14, 2018
Zainab Ahmed is now the Ag. Finance minister. The agenda is real!
— Timfum Zwalda (@timzwal) September 14, 2018
