The appointment of Imam Ibrahim Kashim Imam as board chairman of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has continued to generate mixed reactions from Nigerians on social media.
FERMA is the agency involved in road construction, improvement and connectivity between states. The mandate of this agency which is under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Work, is also to monitor and administer road maintenance with the objective of keeping all federal roads in good condition.
On Friday, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had appointed the 24-year-old first-class graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Brighton University in that capacity.
The chairman, whose father is Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, is a politician, completed the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in August 2022.
While some Nigerians are praising President Tinubu for the appointment, others are criticising the president across social media platforms.
According to those who disagreed with the appointment, the newly appointed board chairman lacks the experience and expertise to head a strategic organization.
The few that supported the appointment noted that the young man would learn on the job.
Below are some of such comments:
@Haslawal87 said: “Appointing a fresh graduate with no work experience to such a high position is absolutely ill-advised.”
@fine_stefany1 wrote: “He will learn on the job.”
@kennyNuga: “This appointment is not worth it. A fresh graduate to oversee the entire FERMA board. Absolutely unworthy.”
@Dipo_Bello: “This doesn’t seem right. We want young for young-appropriate roles. This role seems the type that requires a lot of experience. A board member could be more suited to him.”
@aminsaad: “Political expediency should not be a factor in making appointments where experience and even expertise could be called upon.
“Ferma is all about construction. An experienced civil engineer could make a better choice. True, the mech engr could as well marshall channel knowledge into ensuring the heavy equipment of the agency are in top shape
“Those in authority should try to make the country work by prioritizing expertise and experience. These two are essential commodities to any struggling economy like ours.”
@peng_writer opined that, “This is not as good as people make it feel. Not in any way undermining the young man but he’s not ripe for this job. Apart from the fact that he doesn’t have any experience in public work, neither has he displayed any expertise in field work as it relates to Nigeria terrain.”
Credit: Daily Trust
