By Bassey Udo
From far away Yerevan, Armenia, where he is representing Nigeria at the 64th Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI Board) meeting and other official engagements, the outgoing Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Extractive industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, on Monday debunked reports alleging his removal from office by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a rebuttal titled:
“My Right Of Reply: I Was Not Sacked by President Tinubu”, Dr Orji said that prior to his departure from Nigeria for the EITI meeting, he voluntarily submitted the mandatory three-month notice to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OAGF) to indicate that he was already set to exit office at the end of five-year tenure on February 19, 2026.
Orji, who said he would be returning to the country this weekend, said he has already contacted the relevant authorities for a full briefing and clarity on the issue, to ensure a smooth and peaceful transition to his successor.
“The issue of removal from office does not arise. I have completed my tenure with the submission of my mandatory three-month notice to exit office.
“My tenure as Executive Secretary/CEO of NEITI officially ends on 19th February 2026. This statutory notification is a standard, transparent, and honourable procedure I have followed throughout my more than three decades of dedicated service in the Federal Public Service.
“I have already reached out to Hon Serike Adar, the in-coming Executive Secretary. All should remain calm, focused, and committed to a peaceful and orderly transition in the best interest of NEITI,” Orji said.
See excerpts of Dr Orji’s reaction below.
“My attention has been drawn to a misleading report circulating on social media suggesting that I was “sacked” by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I wish to state clearly and unequivocally that this claim is entirely false.
“I am currently in Yerevan, Armenia, attending the 64th EITI Board Meeting and other official engagements on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Before my departure, I formally notified the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chair of the National Stakeholders Working Group of NEITI, in writing, of my intention to exit office upon the completion of my five-year single tenure.
“In that letter, I voluntarily issued the mandatory three-month notice, as required of all public officers exiting service. My tenure as Executive Secretary/CEO of NEITI officially ends on 19th February 2026. This statutory notification is a standard, transparent, and honourable procedure I have followed throughout my more than three decades of dedicated service in the Federal Public Service.
“I have already reached out to Hon Serike Adar, the in-coming Executive Secretary. All should remain calm, focused, and committed to a peaceful and orderly transition in the best interest of NEITI
“For the avoidance of doubt:
I was not sacked by President Tinubu. I have already fulfilled my obligation by giving the mandatory advance notice of three months before the expiration of my tenure and my voluntary intention to step down.
“I have served this country honestly, diligently, and professionally—without blemish—in several sensitive positions: as a national broadcaster of repute, in the Senate, at the State House, across multiple MDAs, and at the United Nations.
“My record of service at NEITI, with visible and verifiable impact, speaks for itself. Throughout my tenure as Executive Secretary, I received nothing but support and encouragement from President Tinubu, not a sack. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji,PhD”
