By Correspondent in Minna.
The North-Central zone of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed concern over the recent appointment of Mrs. Tomi Somefun as Managing Director (MD) of the National Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), citing the need for adherence to the provisions of the law establishing the Commission.
In a statement dated July 18, 2025, and released to journalists in Minna, the Coordinator of NANS Zone C (North-Central), Comrade Hussaini Jamilu Ebbo, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider the appointment in line with Section 12(a) of the HYPPADEC Act.
The section, he said, mandates that the MD must be an indigene of one of the Commission’s member states.
The Commission, established to address development challenges in hydro-electric power producing areas, comprises eight states: Kebbi, Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, Kwara, Niger, Kogi, and Gombe.
The students’ body emphasized that appointing someone outside these states may contravene the enabling law and compromise the Commission’s intended goals.
“This breach undermines HYPPADEC’s integrity and effectiveness, We urge the President to reconsider and make an appointment that reflects the legal and regional expectations of the Commission.”the body said.
It further noted that the position of Managing Director is expected to rotate among member states and must not be held by an individual from the same state as the Commission’s current Chairman.
Members of NANS North-Central stressed that their stance is rooted in a call for equity, justice, and adherence to due process, and not based on personal or regional sentiments.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
