Tinubu’s Renewal Of National Library DG Anunobi’s Tenure Came Amid Unresolved Corruption Petitions | Sahara Reporters
The decision is significant because it came against the backdrop of allegations raised by the unions concerning the management of public assets and complaints that previous petitions to the ICPC had not been concluded.
Despite corruption allegations and petitions over the alleged sale of public assets at the National Library of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu renewed the tenure of the institution’s Director/Chief Executive Officer, Professor Chinwe Veronica Anunobi, for another five years.
The renewal in May, approved before the expiration of her first tenure, comes amid complaints by the National Library’s in-house unions to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged corruption, improper asset disposal and other management concerns.
Anunobi’s first appointment was approved in September 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari for an initial five-year term. Her tenure, which was due to expire on September 7, 2026, has now been renewed for a final five-year term beginning September 8, 2026.
A letter dated April 21, 2026, from the Federal Ministry of Education, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Abel B. Enitan, conveyed the President’s approval for the renewal. A copy of the letter meant to take effect on September 8, 2026, was exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters.
“I write to convey Mr. President’s approval for the renewal of your appointment as the Director/Chief Executive Officer of National Library of the National Library of Nigeria for a final term of five (5) years,” the letter stated.
It added: “This renewal shall take effect from 8th September, 2026, upon the expiration of your current tenure on 7th September, 2026.”
The ministry further stated: “The terms and conditions of this renewed appointment shall continue to be governed by the relevant provisions of the National Library Act and other extant rules and regulations applicable to the office.”
The renewal means Anunobi is expected to remain at the helm of the National Library until September 2031.
The decision is significant because it came against the backdrop of allegations raised by the unions concerning the management of public assets and complaints that previous petitions to the ICPC had not been concluded.
On March 2, 2026, in a petition to the ICPC, the Coalition of NUPSRAW and ASURI, National Library of Nigeria In-House Unions, alleged the fraudulent sale of two 100KVA generators attached to the National Library’s Adamawa and Taraba State branches.
The petition, a copy of which was seen by SaharaReporters, was titled “Report of Fraudulent Sales of Public Properties in National Library of Nigeria Adamawa and Taraba State Branch.”
The unions alleged that the generators, identified as Mikano and Jubaili, were disposed of without following due process.
“On February 6, 2026, the In-house Unions once again received disturbing news of the sales of Two (2) 100kva generator (Mikano and Jubaili) attached to Adamawa State Branch and Taraba State Branch of National Library of Nigeria respectively, without following the due process,” the petition stated.
The reference to “February 6, 2026” appears in the petition dated March 2, 2026.
The unions alleged that the generators were sold under the pretext that they were unserviceable.
“The disposal of these generators did not follow the procedure set in Section 55(4) (a-d) of the Public Procurement Act 2007. These generators were fraudulently sold under the pretense that they were unserviceable,” they stated.
The petition questioned how newly acquired equipment could have been classified as unserviceable.
“One wonders how brand new generators could be categorized as unserviceable items under the leadership of Prof. Veronica Chinwe Anunobi,” it stated.
The unions added: “Kindly note that the generators were new and in functional state before their disposal.”
They cited provisions of the Public Procurement Act, including Section 55(3), which they quoted as providing that “the open competitive bidding shall be the primary source of receiving offers for sale.”
They also cited Section 56(1), which requires a valuation report by an independent evaluator or appropriately competent professional before public property is sold for disposal.
ASURI, in a separate letter to the National Librarian/CEO, also alleged that the generators had been sold without due process.
“It is no longer news that the generators acquired under the leadership of the former CEO, Prof. Aina, and stationed in Adamawa and Taraba States have been sold out without due process,” the union stated.
It claimed to have investigated the branches and established that the generators had never been used.
“We have investigated the branches, and we have established that the generators have never been put to use, which nullify-it-from being unserviceable,” the letter stated.
The union also alleged that the disposal was not advertised and that due administrative procedures were not followed.
“Kindly note that the generators were in a functional state and have never been put to use at the point of disposal,” it stated.
ASURI further alleged that the official generator at the National Librarian’s residence had also been sold.
The union said its congress had mandated its leadership to demand answers, including why the generators were sold despite allegedly being functional, why the branches had remained without adequate electricity and where the proceeds from the alleged sales were paid.
Among the questions raised was: “Why did the committee members decide to sell a functional generator?”
The union also asked: “Why did the proceed of the sale paid into a private pocket?”
It further demanded to know: “At what point were the generators marked as unserviceable?” and “At what point were they listed for bidding?”
The March 2026 petition said the generator allegations were part of a broader series of complaints concerning the National Library.
The unions referred to earlier petitions and letters dating back to 2023 and 2024 and alleged that previous complaints had been investigated.
They claimed the allegations had been “duly confirmed beyond what was reported,” while expressing frustration over the delay in concluding the investigation.
“We register our displeasure and that of our entire members over the long delay in the conclusion of the investigation,” the unions stated.
They also accused the ICPC of failing to provide adequate protection for union executives who allegedly exposed corruption.
The unions alleged that the delay had created the impression among those accused that the commission had approved their actions.
The corruption allegations have also emerged alongside concerns contained in an internal audit report on the National Library.
The audit found weaknesses in the management of assets in some northern zones, including outdated inventory cards and inadequate asset identification.
“It was also noted that Inventory Cardis displayed at the Northern zones offices were not updated. Likewise, majority of the assets were not numbered,” the report stated.
It also observed that “majority of the assets were not labelled and numbered.”
The audit recommended that assets be properly labelled and numbered to guard against theft, pilferage, loss and missing items.
It cited Financial Regulations requiring appropriate recording and identification of government equipment.
The report also contained a schedule of generators across National Library branches as of March 1, 2024.
According to the schedule, 26 generators were sighted, with 19 requiring major repairs while seven were recorded as being in good working condition.
At Taraba, two 100KVA generators were described as being in bad condition, while at Adamawa, the report stated that the condition of two 100KVA generators “could not be ascertained.”
The internal audit further raised concerns about the handling of library materials.
It stated that 7,756 legal deposit/gift materials had been received and arranged at various locations but had not been transported to the headquarters for accessioning, cataloguing and shelving at the time of the audit.
The audit also recorded 21,494 newspapers and recommended their binding for preservation and ease of retrieval.
It recommended upgrading the E-Library to JAMB standard, including solar power, a 5.5KVA generator and adequate professional staffing.
The audit said such improvements could increase revenue, promote the institution and address electricity challenges affecting patronage.
The Federal Government’s decision to renew Anunobi’s tenure therefore places the allegations and the government’s assessment of her performance side by side.
Her original appointment letter, dated September 6, 2021, stated that she was appointed Director of the National Library with effect from September 2, 2021.
The letter from then Education Minister Adamu Adamu said the appointment was for five years and “may be renewed for a further term of five (5) years, upon your satisfactory performance as stipulated in the National Library Act.”
Five years later, the Federal Government approved that renewal despite the existence of the union petitions and the unresolved questions they raised concerning alleged asset disposal.