Tinubu greenlights return of NEMA and NAHCON back to Vice President’s Office

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) have been returned to the Office of the Vice President for supervision by President Bola Tinubu. The move is in compliance with the various establishment Acts. The President has also approved a formal structure for the Office of the Vice President, including an appropriate number of technical and administrative aides who will assist the Vice President in the discharge of his duties. This decision comes after reports emerged in 2019 that then-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had been stripped of his supervisory powers over some government agencies. The House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness accused Osinbajo of illegally approving N5.8 billion North East Intervention Fund which was mismanaged by NEMA. The committee indicted Osinbajo in its report, calling into question his role as the chairman of the governing board of the agency. Although the abridged report never mentioned the Vice President, reports later emerged that Osinbajo was indicted for illegal approvals. The move to return the agencies to the Office of the Vice President is seen as a step towards reestablishing the Vice President’s supervisory powers over government agencies.