Appointment of DG NTA/FRCN : First Lady, Minister in Tug- of- War

There appears to be growing unease about the endless intrigues over the delay in appointment of substantive director general for government owned Federal Radio Corporation, FRCN and Nigeria Television Authority ,NTA respectively.
Sources told Newsdiaryonline.com that the candidates for DG of NTA include Musa Maiyaki, the acting DG, Eugenia Abu, currently with NTA and Moji Makanjuola ,who has retired..As for FRCN DG, the candidates include Dr Samson Shuaibu, the current acting DG,Ladan Salihu,a zonal director and there is also one Aliyu Mustapha,who is said to be with the Voice of America ,VOA.Mustapha, said to be a staff with VOA is being supported for the FRCN DG post by Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto state.Also, Yusuf Nuhu,former DG of FRCN who has retired from office is being supported by ‘some powerful northern emirs’, a source said.
Newsdiaryonline.com has learnt that though there is a long list of candidates for these vital posts already, appointment of anyone has been stalled by the First Lady, Patience Jonathan’s desire to have a female candidate appointed .She is believed to be solidly behind Moji Makanjuola for the job.If Moji doesn’t get it, the First Lady also wants the job to go to Eugenia Abu.She is pushing for the female candidates.One source claimed that Senate President, David Mark is also throwing his weight behind Abu.
Insiders told Newsdiaryonline.com that some presidency officials are not disposed towards Makanjuola who has just retired from service.These officials are claiming that she retired ‘as a middle level officer’ .The appointment of either Makanjuola or Abu,some presidency officials argue may create problem of discipline and undermine harmony in the establishment.But Patience is not buying any of these arguments so far.
While the First Lady has been pushing for those named above ,an insider claimed that Information minister ,Labaran Maku initially suggested Onyeka Owenu to occupy one of the vacant seats.Now ,he is backing Dr Samson Shuaibu the acting DG FRCN to be confirmed for the job.So some tug- of -war appears to be in the offing between the minister and the First Lady.
But it is the desire of the First Lady to push her female candidates that is believed to be compounding matters for now. The board of directors of FRCN was appointed by President Jonathan with Ben Murray Bruce as chairman in January.But the board has not yet been inaugurated according , a source partly because no substantive DG is in place.
Meanwhile, the acting heads of these organizations continue to hope that they will in fact be confirmed, just as aspirants to the posts remain hopeful that the FG will soon name substantive heads for this vital institutions. Whether the First Lady will allow that to happen without having her way remains to be seen.