NANS Kicks Against Appointment of Somefun as HYPPADEC DG

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), North-Central Zone, has rejected the recent appointment of Mrs. Tomi Somefun as the Managing Director of the National Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), describing it as a clear violation of the law establishing the commission.

In a strongly worded statement issued on July 18, 2025, and made available to journalists in Minna, the zonal leadership of NANS maintained that the appointment was illegal, politically motivated, and unacceptable.

“We are deeply concerned that Mrs. Tomi Somefun, who hails from the South-West, was appointed to head a commission that is statutorily reserved for indigenes of HYPPADEC member states,” said Comrade Hussaini Jamilu Ebbo, the NANS North-Central Coordinator.

“This action clearly violates Section 12(a) of the HYPPADEC Act, which provides that the Managing Director must be an indigene of one of the commission’s eight member states,” he added.

The member states of HYPPADEC include Kebbi, Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, Kwara, Niger, Kogi, and Gombe. According to NANS, the failure to appoint a qualified candidate from any of these states raises serious questions about the administration’s commitment to fairness and legality.

“We wonder why the President could not find any competent and qualified individual from the member states to occupy the office. This disregard for the law is dangerous and undermines the integrity of the commission,” Comrade Hussaini stated.

The statement also referenced the timing of the appointment, alleging it may be part of a broader strategy to place political loyalists in key positions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“It is unfortunate that political considerations are now taking precedence over the rule of law. This appointment reeks of desperation and sets a dangerous precedent,” the statement noted.

Comrade Hussaini further argued that the appointment is not only unlawful but also unjust, especially given the Act’s stipulation that the Managing Director must not come from the same state as the current Chairman of the Commission.

“The Act also provides that the position must rotate among member states. Clearly, this appointment does not meet that requirement,” he emphasized.

NANS concluded by calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently review and reverse the decision.

“We urge the President to respect the provisions of the law, rescind this appointment, and restore credibility to HYPPADEC. Anything short of that is an invitation to legal and civil resistance,” the statement concluded.