By Joy Musa
A civil society group, Voice of the Voiceless Nigerian, has called for the immediate removal of Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban, Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), over allegations of corruption and job racketeering.
In a strongly worded statement issued in Abuja and signed by the group’s Publicity Secretary, Oluwatosin Adejare, the organization urged anti-corruption agencies—the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)—to launch a full-scale investigation into the alleged misconduct.
The group accused Dr. Dabban of violating the Federal Character Principle, which mandates equitable distribution of public appointments across Nigeria’s diverse ethnic and religious groups. They cited the Federal Character Commission (FCC) Act No. 34 of 1996, which empowers the FCC to enforce fairness and equity in public service recruitment and infrastructure allocation.
“This is a blatant abuse of office,” the statement read. “Instead of focusing on his mandate to develop agricultural policies that can revive Nigeria’s struggling sector, the Executive Secretary has allegedly engaged in unconstitutional practices that undermine national unity and transparency.”
The group further alleged that the ARCN under Dr. Dabban has become a hub of lawlessness, with recruitment slots unfairly distributed among select regions, ignoring constitutional provisions and the spirit of inclusivity.
Calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene, the group demanded the immediate dismissal of Dr. Dabban to pave the way for an independent investigation. “The credibility of Nigeria’s anti-corruption war is at stake. The President must act swiftly to restore public confidence in governance,” Adejare emphasized.
As the allegations continue to stir public discourse, stakeholders in the agricultural and civil society sectors are watching closely for the government’s next move.
