Criticism trails President Tinubu’s latest appointment over qualification concerns of nominee

The appointment of Fatima Zuntu as director-general of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has sparked criticism over concerns about her qualifications and experience.

Zuntu was appointed by President Bola Tinubu for a four-year term effective April 16 in a statement the presidency described her as a public health professional and policy strategist.

However, stakeholders and some officials within the agency have questioned her eligibility. They cited provisions of the NBMA Act, 2015, which require a minimum of 15 years’ cognate experience in biosafety, biodiversity or related fields.

Critics said Zuntu’s publicly available profile suggests she may not meet the requirement.

The agency regulates biotechnology and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Nigeria. Concerns have also been raised about leadership instability at the agency. Within the past three years, the NBMA has had multiple heads.

Agnes Asagbra, appointed in 2023, did not complete her tenure, while Bello Bwari resigned after about six months.

A senior official, who declined to be named, said the agency has faced challenges with leadership appointments.

“We’ve not been lucky at this agency with the appointment of DGs,” the official told Premium Times after the appointment.

Another official said experienced directors within the agency were overlooked.

“This lady is just approaching 30 years old. She is not experienced at all. How do they want her to lead?” the source said.

Tosin Arebuwa, a commentator, criticised what he described as limited experience.

“In less than 10 years, she’s worked six different jobs across six different organisations. Where is the place of depth and expertise?” he queried.

Zuntu holds a degree in medicine from the University of Maiduguri and a master’s in public health from the University of South Wales. She has worked in clinical practice, public health and healthcare administration.