By Hussaini Yero The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD) has confirmed that the reappointment of Fatima Shinkafi as the Executiv...
By Hussaini Yero
The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD) has confirmed that the reappointment of Fatima Shinkafi as the Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) by President Bola Tinubu is in full compliance with the agency's governing provisions.
In a statement issued by the Assistant Director of Information & Public Relations at the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the ministry responded to the controversy surrounding the reappointment. It clarified that the SMDF Act does not specify any term limit for the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the agency
"Our attention has been drawn to misleading information circulating regarding the reappointment of Hajia Fatima Shinkafi as Executive Secretary of SMDF, as approved by the President. The approval, granted several weeks ago, followed due process and aligns with the applicable laws, including the Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA) of 2007," the statement read.
"Section 35(2) of the NMMA 2007 specifies that the Executive Secretary shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development. Importantly, there is no provision in the act that stipulates a tenure limit for the Executive Secretary. Therefore, her reappointment is valid and does not violate any law."
The ministry also highlighted the significant achievements made under Fatima Shinkafi's leadership, including the reorganization of SMDF to mobilize capital, de-risk investment tools for the mining sector, and facilitate targeted exploration to fast-track mine development.
The ministry assured stakeholders in the mining sector that it will continue to support SMDF in expanding access to credit, strengthening partnerships, and driving economic growth in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to position solid minerals as a major contributor to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
No comments