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There is a quiet rumble in Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBBL) over whether the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, should continue to occupy the 6th floor of the company’s National Shared Services Centre (NSSC) in Abuja following the transfer of GBBL to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
The NSSC is the 8-floors twin building that also served as the head office for the government-owned digital infrastructure and shared services provider charged with the responsibility of developing and implementing a national network and data infrastructure platform for public and private institutions,
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GBBL was formerly under the supervision of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy but was moved recently with about 10 other agencies to the OSGF “to strengthen service delivery”, according to a statement by Head Media and Communications, Office of the SGF, Segun Imohiosen, who confirmed the development.
The move angered Tijani who was completely in the dark over the decision by the presidency, said sources with knowledge of the matter.
Like his predecessor, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, who chose to use the NCC’s Digital Economy Building, Tijani had on assumption of office as a minister chosen to not use the Federal Secretariat where the ministry is domiciled and decided to use the 6th floor of GBBL’s NSSC.
Accordingly, a memo was issued months back to that effect by the Human Resource Department of the GBBL imposing restriction in movement to staff within the company’s premises including the use of the parking space.
“We are no longer under his ministry and we need to work without further hindrances,” a senior official told IT Edge News in Abuja.
Adding: “Now, only the OSGF can decide if he can continue to occupy the space which was an imposition, in the first place, on the management of GBBL He can choose to now use the Federal Secretariat or take a cue from the former minister and move to the NCC’s complex.”
Abubakar’s tenue as CEO ends
Meanwhile, the initial tenure of Muhammad Bello Abubakar as the third Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of GBBL has officially ended just before the Christmas break, IT Edge News learnt.
However, government is yet to announce on who takes over or if Abubakar will have a tenure renewal.
“The intrigues are deep and wide. Abubakar has a chance for renewal but there are other equally powerful interested parties,” one insider revealed.
According to him, “the prof had previously mentioned that he cannot work with that man [Minister Tijani] most likely because he believed he would not be reappointed then. Things have changed and with Galaxy reporting to the OSGF, anything can still happen. But there is a subtle push to put a more business minded person as CEO to manage Galaxy to profit. Prof is an academic not so versed in managing business enterprises. It is a waiting game now.
Abubakar was appointed December 2019 and officially assumed office January 2020.
