A coalition of civil society organizations gathered at the NUJ Press Centre in Utako, Abuja, on Wednesday, to urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reinstate Dr. Nasir Olaitan Raji-Mustapha as Director General of the National Productivity Centre (NPC). The group, led by Barr.Joseph Ndaguba, Head Legal Service of the Centre for Civil Relations, Open Dialogue and Development, expressed concern over the recent appointment of a new Director General without the requisite qualifications and experience.

The coalition argued that Dr. Raji-Mustapha, a seasoned productivity expert with three decades of service, was removed and replaced with an appointee lacking the necessary credentials stating that the decision undermines the principles of merit and fairness and threatens the NPC’s credibility and effectiveness.

Ndaguba said, “The NPC plays a crucial role in fostering productivity across all sectors of the economy, and the group emphasized the importance of having competent leaders at the helm. They cited examples of catastrophic failures in the financial and health sectors due to unqualified leadership and urged President Tinubu to act in the nation’s best interest by reinstating Dr. Raji-Mustapha.”

The coalition’s demands include the immediate reinstatement of Dr. Raji-Mustapha and a commitment to merit-based leadership appointments.

“We trust that President Tinubu will act swiftly to restore confidence in the NPC and reaffirm the Centre’s commitment to excellence. The consequences of not reinstating Dr. Raji-Mustapha are dire, with potential setbacks in Nigeria’s socio-economic development, diminished productivity, and compromised organizational integrity. The group urged President Tinubu to act swiftly to prevent this from happening.” They added.

The press conference was attended by leaders of civil society organizations, the media, amongst others. The group’s call to action echoes a growing concern among Nigerians for good governance and effective leadership.