Nigeria’s National Library Staff Question CEO’s Tenure Renewal Over ‘Conflicting Dates’; Ministry Offers Explanation | Sahara Reporters
According to the sources, Anunobi’s first five-year tenure was approved with effect from September 2, 2021, meaning that the tenure would ordinarily expire at the end of September 1, 2026.
The purported renewal of Professor Chinwe Veronica Anunobi’s tenure as National Librarian and Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria (NLN) has prompted questions over conflicting dates in her appointment and renewal letters.
NLN staff who spoke to SaharaReporters anonymously, citing fears of victimisation, said the discrepancies have raised concerns among some employees and associates of the library about the duration of Anunobi’s initial tenure and the authority behind the purported renewal.
According to the sources, Anunobi’s first five-year tenure was approved with effect from September 2, 2021, meaning that the tenure would ordinarily expire at the end of September 1, 2026.
However, a subsequent letter purportedly renewing her appointment states that her current tenure would expire on September 7, 2026, with the renewed tenure taking effect on September 8, 2026.
The discrepancy, according to the sources, has created an administrative lacuna concerning the management of the National Library.
The sources also questioned the fact that the renewal letter was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, rather than the Minister, while stating that there was no accompanying directive from the Minister authorising the action.
The development has reportedly generated concern among some staff members and individuals familiar with the affairs of the National Library, particularly against the backdrop of complaints about the condition and management of the institution over the past five years.
The concerned staff members have appealed to the Federal Government to urgently intervene to prevent further deterioration of the National Library and to investigate allegations of administrative irregularities and corruption within the institution.
They also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to review the management of the National Library under Anunobi, including by examining the outcome of an investigation reportedly conducted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
According to the concerned staff, such an investigation should form part of the information considered before the clearance and renewal of the appointment of a public officer, although the existence, scope and outcome of any such ICPC investigation would need to be independently established.
Documents obtained by SaharaReporters from the Federal Ministry of Education show that Anunobi was initially appointed Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria with effect from September 2, 2021.
The letter, dated September 6, 2021, was referenced FME/PS/630/C.2/11/422 and addressed to Professor (Mrs.) Chinwe Veronica Anunobi at the Department of Library and Information Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.
The letter was signed by the then Minister of Education, Professor Adamu Adamu.
It conveyed the approval of then-President Muhammadu Buhari for Anunobi’s appointment as Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Library.
The letter stated: “I write to convey to you the approval of His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for your appointment as the Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Library with effect from 2nd September, 2021.”
The letter further stated that the appointment was for an initial period of five years, subject to renewal
It reads: “The appointment is for a tenure of five (5) years in the first instance and may be renewed for a further term of five (5) years, upon your satisfactory performance as stipulated in the National Library Act.”
The letter also stated that the terms and conditions of service, including remuneration and fringe benefits, would be governed by the provisions applicable to chief executives of education parastatals under the relevant amended legislation.
However, another document obtained by SaharaReporters, titled “Letter of Renewal of Tenure as Director/Chief Executive Officer of National Library of Nigeria,” contains a different timeline for the expiration of Anunobi’s first tenure.
The document was signed by Abel Enitan, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, and dated September 8, 2026.
The renewal letter states that President Buhari’s successor, President Bola Tinubu, had approved the renewal of Anunobi’s appointment for another five-year term.
“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 reads.
The second paragraph of the letter states: “This renewal shall take effect from 8th September, 2026, upon the expiration of your current tenure on 7th September, 2026.”
The letter further states that the terms and conditions of the renewed appointment would continue to be governed by the National Library Act and other applicable rules and regulations.
The two documents obtained by SaharaReporters appear to contain materially different dates concerning the end of Anunobi’s first tenure.
While the September 6, 2021 appointment letter expressly states that the appointment took effect from September 2, 2021 and was for five years, the purported renewal letter states that the existing tenure would expire on September 7, 2026, with the new tenure beginning on September 8, 2026.
Sources who raised the issue told SaharaReporters that the difference in the dates requires clarification by the Federal Ministry of Education, particularly because the effective date of a public appointment determines when a tenure begins and when it expires.
They stated that the discrepancy could create an administrative gap in the leadership of the National Library if the original appointment is calculated according to the September 2, 2021 effective date contained in the appointment letter.
The sources also questioned why the renewal letter was signed by the Permanent Secretary and not the Minister of Education, particularly given that the original appointment letter was signed by the then Minister of Education, Professor Adamu Adamu.
They called for the Ministry to make public the approval or directive under which the renewal letter was issued and to clarify the precise date on which Anunobi’s first tenure legally expired.
The concerned staff members also called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the affairs of the National Library.
They explained that the institution had experienced a deterioration in its administration and operations over the past five years and urged the government to investigate the allegations rather than allowing the controversy surrounding the renewal of the tenure to continue.
They specifically appealed to President Tinubu to examine the management of the National Library during Anunobi’s first tenure and to obtain and review any relevant report from the ICPC concerning the institution.
The staff members argued that any report from an anti-corruption investigation, if it exists and is legally available for consideration, should be examined as part of the government’s assessment of the suitability of renewing the appointment of a public officer.
When SaharaReporters contacted Vershima Dio, spokesperson for the National Library of Nigeria, and presented questions concerning the discrepancies in the tenure dates and the renewal letter, he acknowledged receiving and reading the questions.
Dio, however, said the issues raised were within the authority of the Federal Ministry of Education rather than the National Library.
“I have now read your questions. However, the responses are within the purview of superior authorities, not the National Library, a subordinate authority in this case.”
Responding to questions from SaharaReporters, Mrs. Folashade Boriowo is the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, provided a detailed explanation of the dates.
On the discrepancy between September 2, 2021 and September 7, 2026, she said Anunobi was first appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari with effect from September 2, 2021 for an initial five-year tenure.
She said the Federal Ministry of Education had announced the appointment on September 1, 2021.
According to Boriowo, while the appointment letter carries an effective date, the tenure calculation for chief executives of federal parastatals is based on the date of assumption of duty.
“Accordingly, her first 5-year tenure, calculated inclusively from date of assumption (8th September 2021 – 7th September 2026), expired on 7th September, 2026,” Boriowo said.
“There was no amendment to the original appointment letter; the 7th September date reflects the standard administrative practice of counting from assumption of duty, not letter date.”
On the renewal, the ministry said President Tinubu approved Anunobi’s appointment for a final five-year term.
Boriowo said the renewal followed the same channel applicable to the appointment of the National Librarian, adding that the Permanent Secretary signed the letter only to convey the presidential approval.
She said the Permanent Secretary “does not approve the renewal in his own right” but conveys the approval of the President as recommended by the Minister of Education and processed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The ministry said the renewal therefore took effect on September 8, 2026, immediately after the expiration of the first tenure on September 7.