Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Fresh controversy has erupted at the National Directorate of Employment following the sudden return of its Director-General, Silas Ali Agara, who resumed duty on Monday, July 13, 2026, just weeks after resigning his position to contest the All Progressives Congress senatorial primary in Nasarawa State. Agara, a former deputy governor of Nasarawa State, had stepped down in compliance with President Bola Tinubu's directive requiring all political appointees seeking elective office to resign before contesting party primaries. However, his return to the NDE headquarters in Abuja—after losing the APC ticket to Governor Abdullahi Sule—has sparked widespread disquiet, with human rights groups and legal practitioners demanding an immediate explanation from the Presidency.
According to an official statement from the NDE, Agara was "warmly received" by the immediate past Acting Director-General, Mr. Edmund Onwuliri, alongside directors and staff, who reaffirmed their commitment to supporting his vision for employment creation, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship development, and poverty reduction. But while the directorate celebrated his return, critics have questioned the legality of the move, arguing that a statutory appointment—once resigned and accepted—cannot be reclaimed without a fresh presidential appointment and a formal public announcement.
In a statement issued on Thursday, July 16, the Network for Human Rights and Good Governance, through its National Coordinator, Barrister Danladi Usman Azizi, challenged the Presidency to clarify the legal basis for Agara's reinstatement. "The fundamental question begging for answers is this: By what legal or constitutional authority has he returned to office without any formal announcement of his reappointment by the President?" Azizi queried. He stressed that appointments to the office of Director-General of a federal agency are statutory appointments governed by law and due process, and that once a resignation is accepted, the appointment comes to an end. "Appointments into the office of Director-General of a federal agency are not family arrangements. They are statutory appointments that require due process," Azizi said.
The rights group also raised concerns about the precedent Agara's return could set for other political appointees who resigned to contest elections and lost. It noted that several presidential appointees had resigned in line with Tinubu's directive before participating in APC primaries, with some failing to secure their party's tickets. "If Mr. Agara has now been allowed to return to his position without formal reappointment, does this mean all other appointees who lost their primaries can also return?" the group asked. Azizi further demanded that the Presidency disclose whether a formal letter of reappointment had been issued, questioning why such an appointment had not been made public if it indeed existed. "The Presidency owes Nigerians a clear explanation. Is there a formal letter of reappointment? If there is, why has it not been publicly announced? If there is none, under what authority is Mr. Agara occupying the office of Director-General?" he demanded.
Agara, who had earlier notified the APC of his intention to contest the Nasarawa North Senatorial seat, lost the primary election to Governor Abdullahi Sule, whose victory was announced by the returning officer after the exercise. His return to the NDE has now placed President Tinubu in a difficult position, with critics warning that the controversy could undermine public confidence in the integrity of federal appointments and the government's commitment to due process. As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency had not issued any official statement on Agara's reinstatement, leaving Nigerians and civil society groups awaiting clarity on a matter that has raised fundamental questions about the rule of law, administrative propriety, and the sanctity of statutory appointments in Nigeria's public service.
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