I Never Rejected My Nomination As NERC Chairman – Prof. Akintunde Akinwande

Akintunde Akinwande

Nigerian American engineering professor has dismissed social media report that he turned down the offer of appointment as Chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.

                                     
Akinwande was nominated for the Chairmanship of NERC by President Muhammadu Bahuri, but failed to appear before the National Assembly for screening on October 25.
His failure to appear for the screening was wrongly interpreted by a section of the social media.

Prof. Akinwande, in a letter dated October 26 and sent to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, however, said he would soon honour the invitation for screening by the Senate.
He said he would appear before the Senate after clearing with his current employer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States.
A statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Femi Adesina, confirmed this development.
Adesina said that Akinwande sent the letter acknowledging his readiness to appear for screening at the Senate through the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Sen. Ita Enang.
Akinwande, a professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, said he did not turn down the offer by Buhari.
He said, “News reports in Nigeria that I have rejected President Buhari’s nomination to be Chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission have been brought to my attention.
“I have the greatest respect for President Buhari. I am fully behind the change he has brought and is bringing to the way government business is conducted in Nigeria.