Olamilekan Abayomi
President Bola Tinubu has announced a major round of appointments to key federal agencies, with former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose named as the new Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA. The announcement was contained in a statement released by the Presidency on Monday evening and covers 26 appointments in total. According to the statement, the appointments are aimed at strengthening service delivery, improving energy access, and repositioning critical institutions for the Renewed Hope agenda.
Fayose’s appointment to lead the REA is one of the most high-profile on the list. The agency is responsible for expanding electricity access to rural and underserved communities through grid extension, mini-grids, and solar projects. The Presidency noted that Fayose’s experience in governance and grassroots mobilization will be vital as the administration pushes to connect more households to power. His tenure is expected to focus on accelerating ongoing projects and improving transparency in the agency’s procurement and disbursement processes.
Alongside the REA chairmanship, Tinubu named 25 other Nigerians to head or serve on the boards of various federal agencies, commissions, and parastatals. The list cuts across economic, social, and security sectors. Notable appointments include new chief executives for the National Agricultural Development Fund, the Federal Housing Authority, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency. Several of the appointees are technocrats, while others are politicians and former lawmakers drawn from different regions of the country.
The President emphasized that the selections were made based on competence, track record, and the need for federal character. In the statement, he urged the new appointees to uphold the highest standards of integrity and to align their work with the administration’s eight-point agenda. Tinubu also directed that all nominees who require Senate confirmation should have their names forwarded to the National Assembly without delay, while those for direct appointment are to assume office immediately after documentation.
Reactions have started trailing the appointments across political and civil society circles. Supporters of the administration described the list as balanced and reflective of the President’s promise to reward loyalty while bringing in fresh expertise. Some stakeholders in the energy sector specifically welcomed Fayose’s appointment to REA, noting that rural electrification has lagged and needs stronger political leadership to drive implementation. Others, however, called for closer oversight to ensure that political considerations do not override technical requirements in agencies handling critical infrastructure.
For the REA, the timing of the leadership change is significant. The agency currently manages several World Bank and donor-funded programs targeted at providing electricity to over 17 million Nigerians in rural areas. There have been concerns about slow project execution and community engagement in past years. With Fayose at the helm, expectations are that the agency will adopt a more aggressive outreach strategy and work closely with state governments and private developers to scale up mini-grid deployments.
The broader set of 25 appointments also signals Tinubu’s effort to fill long-vacant positions that have slowed decision-making in federal institutions. Agencies like the National Population Commission, the National Directorate of Employment, and the Federal Medical Centres Board all received new leadership. Analysts say this is part of a wider reshuffle expected to continue in the coming months as the administration seeks to consolidate in its second year.
All appointees are expected to undergo onboarding and performance agreements with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in the coming weeks. The Presidency said it will monitor key performance indicators for each agency and that non-performance will not be tolerated. With the new team now in place, attention will turn to how quickly they can translate policy directives into visible results for Nigerians across the country.
