By Aondowase Agabi
The immediate past Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed has said her appointment at the World Bank was approved by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.
News had made the round from an online newspaper (not EconomyFootprint) that the ex-Minister abused her privileged position, clandestinely nominated and appropriated the position of Alternate Executive Director (AED) at the World Bank without due process.
But reacting to an enquiry from EconomyFootprint, the former minister said the facts of the story are not correct.
“This is so sad, as it is not showing the facts” she told our correspondent via text message.
Her Media Adviser, Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi would later provide more details.
“In the first instance, the World Bank is a reputable organization with its rules and processes.
Secondly, any one working at that level of Alternate Executive Director (AED) must be a representative of his or her country and would have gotten such approval and endorsement from his or her government”
“It will be recalled that the position became available in October 2022. Mr President was notified and approval was gotten in April 2023, but with the understanding that Dr. Zainab Ahmed cannot report until after the end of her tenure as Minister” he clarified further.
“Therefore the Former Minister couldn’t have nominated herself and also approved such. I can therefore confirm to you that the former President approved her being the AED at the World Bank representing Nigeria” the statement concluded..
