Tinubu expands patronage network with 26 appointments, brings Fayose back into federal fold

Mr Fayose's appointment is likely to attract the most attention among the latest appointments, given his history as a vocal PDP figure and frequent critic of APC administrations.

Former Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose has made a surprising return to the federal political stage after President Bola Tinubu appointed him chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), in a move that underscores the administration's willingness to bring opposition figures into key government positions while continuing a broad restructuring of federal agencies.

The appointment, announced on Monday alongside 25 others across 10 government agencies and commissions, is one of the most politically significant in the latest round of appointments, given Fayose's long-standing identity as a prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) figure and one-time vocal critic of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, the president's special adviser on information and strategy, Mr Fayose will head the REA board alongside Alhaji Ahmadu Abubakar and Engineer Ilyasu Ibrahim Makinta as non-executive directors. The agency's Director-General, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, and three previously appointed executive directors complete the board.

Beyond Mr Fayose's appointment, President Tinubu also named retired Major General Junaid Bindawa as chairman of the National Salary and Wages Commission.

Former Lagos lawmaker Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas was appointed secretary of the commission, while Dr Ogbole Ene Lilian, Oladele Olatubosun and Yakubu Umar Barde were named commissioners representing Benue, Oyo and Kaduna states, respectively. Other members include Dr Mai Adamu Yau, Ginika Florence Tor, Engineer Lawrence Okoh and Bello Morenike Iyabode.

The president also, redeployed Tosin Johnson Adeyanju from the National Lottery Trust Fund to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission as secretary.

Other appointments include Dr Abuh Mohammed as director-general of the National Population Commission; Dr Akinola Odeyemi as managing director of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET); and Dr Anthony Inalegwu Godwin as chairman and chief executive officer of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission.

Engineer Julius Oloro was appointed chief executive officer of the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM), succeeding the late Dr A.R. Kamal, who died in January.

President Tinubu also constituted a new board for the Fiscal Responsibility Commission with Dr Abdullahi Maikano Saidu as chairman, while Shuni Muhammad Dahiru was named executive secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education.

In addition, Gisaor Vincent Iorja was appointed executive director (Finance) of the Federal Housing Authority, replacing Mathias Byuan, who resigned to pursue the Benue governorship.

The presidency said that, all the appointments take immediate effect.

Mr Fayose's appointment is likely to attract the most attention among the latest appointments, given his history as a vocal PDP figure and frequent critic of APC administrations. It also reinforces President Tinubu's recent pattern of drawing experienced politicians from different political backgrounds into federal appointments, even as the administration continues to reshape the leadership of key government institutions.