President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the Governing Board of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) over conflict with the Registrar and Chief Executive of the Board, Professor Ifeoma Abanihe.

In a terse statement which was issued through the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Sonny Echono on Monday in Abuja, Buhari approved the dissolution of the Prof. Karshima Shilga-led Board with immediate effect.

The President also nullified the suspension of  Professor Abanihe and four other Directors of the Board by the Governing Council.

He  directed the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu to take immediate measures towards repositioning and refocusing NABTEB for greater efficiency to ensure that its performance becomes more responsive to the expectations of the current administration.

The statement said the purported suspension of the Registrar, Prof. Ifeoma Abanihe and four other Directors of NABTEB was nullified since it did not conform with due process, adding that the Chairman of the Board and his team went beyond their powers which is in contravention of the laws establishing the Board.

The statement read: “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the dissolution of the Governing Board of National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) with immediate effect.

“Mr. President has also directed the Honourable Minister of Education to take immediate measures to reposition and refocus NABTEB for greater efficiency and to render its performance more responsive to the expectations of the present administration.

“The purported suspension of the Registrar, Prof. Ifeoma Abanihe and four (4) other Directors of NABTEB has been nullified as it did not conform with due process especially in the case of the Registrar, because the Board went beyond its powers and in contravention of Section 5 and Section 6 of NABTEB Act,” it said.

The dissolution of the Board may not be unconnected the the leadership crisis that rocked the establishment soon after its Governing Board was inaugurated by the Minister of Education a few months ago.