Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has stated that Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, should not also serve as Minister of Petroleum.
Sanusi made the suggestion while addressing the Bank Directors Summit, which was held on Thursday at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja.
The former Emir of Kano also demanded an audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), claiming that it was this demand that lost him his job as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
On assumption of office, President Tinubu divided the Ministry of Petroleum Resources upon his assumption of office, naming Ekperipe Ekpo as Minister of State, Gas Resources, and Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, but retaining the position of substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources for himself.
This is similar to his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, who also served as Minister of Petroleum throughout his term.
However, Sanusi stressed during his speech that the President should not also be the Minister of Petroleum.
During the occasion, the former CBN Governor also emphasised the importance of amending the CBN Act to maintain the central bank free of political interference.