All is not well in the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s Department of Treasury over who acts in the place of the retired director, Zanna Hamza.
Hamza left the services of the administration having attained the retirement age on September 25, 2023.
In a “Forwarding of Handing Over Note” with Ref No. FCTA/FCT/DT/1663 dated September 25, 2023 exclusively sighted by The Abuja Inquirer, Mallam Hamza stated, “Following my retirement as a Director Treasury (sic) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration effective today, 25th September, 2023, I hereby handover the schedule of the Office of the Director Treasury to the most senior professional Accountant in the department in the person of Adamu Ibrahim Wanki, who is the Director, Finance and Accounts…”
However, the departing director’s forwarding handover note was not well-received by the permanent secretary of the FCTA, Mr. Adesola Olusade, who was alleged enraged by the handing over to Mr. Wanki.
Rather, Mr. Olusade bypassed the norm and named another director, Mrs. Nanre Emeje in place of Mr. Wanki.
Mrs. Emeje is in charge of administration and is relatively new in the department after having just being moved from higher education.
Sources who spoke this newspaper said it was professionally unwise to have a non-accountant head the treasury.
“I have never seen this happen before to see a non-professional heading the treasury. In years of service Mrs. Emeje might have a slight edge, but this requires a professional and not about any base sentiment or consideration,” a staff of the treasury department, who asked not to be named for fear of disciplinary measures, told our correspondent.
The Abuja Inquirer learnt that Mrs. Emeje is not new to controversy as in 2017, her posting to the Secondary Education Board as secretary/director was not without incident as she alleged that she was to be schemed out owing to her religion as a Christian.
“We remember how she brought CAN and whipped up religious sentiments in her posting to SEB. This is the same scenario playing out again and the minister shouldn’t allow such a sensitive department as treasury to fall to a non-professional. This position is not about any other criteria but professionalism,” another staff stated.
For now, it is unclear what the minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, will do about the seeming discontent in the department.
