Buhari approved my World Bank appointment, says Zainab Ahmed

Former Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed has said that her appointment as an Alternate Executive Director (AED) representing Nigeria was with the consent of former President Muhammadu Buhari. 

Zainab made the disclosure on Monday following inquiries over a newspaper report that alleged she nominated herself for the World Bank position.

An online platform had reported that the former minister surreptitiously got the World Bank job without presidential approval. 

In a statement by the Media Adviser to the former Finance Minister, Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi, Zainab explained that there was no way she could have nominated herself for such a position without the President’s approval.

She said: “In the first instance, the World Bank is a reputable organization with its rules and processes.

“Secondly, anyone working at that level of Alternate Executive Director (AED) must be a representative of his or her country and would have gotten such approval and endorsement from his or her government. It will be recalled that the position became available in October 2022.

“Mr. President was notified and approval was gotten in April 2023, but with the understanding that Dr. Zainab Ahmed cannot report until after the end of her tenure as Minister.

“Therefore, the former Minister couldn’t have nominated herself and also approved such. I can therefore confirm to you that the former President approved her being the AED at the World Bank representing Nigeria,” he added.