The appointment of Seun Onigbinde, the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of BudgIT, as Technical Adviser in the Ministry of Budget and National Planning has caused a stir on the Nigerian Twitter community.
Listed as one of the most influential young Nigerians in 2018, Onigbinde, a fiscal transparency advocate had via his BudgIT platform kept both the executive and the legislative arms on their toes through the use of Open Data.
In 2012, he was awarded the Future Awards Prize for Science and Tech Innovation.
However, his appointment as Technical Adviser had got many talking with some saying that a major critic of government and its policies shouldn’t have accepted the offer.
Others however disagreed saying his appointment should be commended with the hope that his expertise on budget and policies would be handy.
SEE TWEETS BELOW
The Competent Critic, Seun Onigbinde send his regards to all of you from his Facebook page. Gosh! pic.twitter.com/HiXHiNUxQr
— TallJohn???? (@JohnFanimokun) September 13, 2019
I find Seun Onigbinde's appointment rather commendable.
— The Russian Bear! (@prowzac) September 13, 2019
Seun Onigbinde has been appointed TA to the Ministry of Budget. Seun has only one area of expertise. Its the Nigerian budget. We all know that.
Now he is in a position to influence it. https://t.co/Vqj4lxppxP
— Dr Ola Brown (Orekunrin) (@NaijaFlyingDr) September 13, 2019
The work Seun Onigbinde did at @BudgITng has been quite brilliant and commendable. I sincerely hope that BudITng does not become a propaganda spewing mouthpiece for an incompetent govt. Their independence must stay same and sacrosanct.
— Josh King (@royaljosh) September 13, 2019
Congratulations to Seun Onigbinde of @BudgITng for his appointment by the ministry of budget and planning.
The underlining message of the appointment is straight forward:
"Now you have the opportunity to fix what you have always criticised".— Godwin OG (@OG_Adon) September 13, 2019
Most of them talking about Seun Onigbinde appointment will still do the same.. No be Naija we deyyy???? https://t.co/xuJWL7S4Y3
— ???????? Mech ???????? (@mech200) September 13, 2019
cc@NGRPresident @MBuhari @ProfOsinbajo @OfficialAPCNg @A_Oshiomhole @AsiwajuTinubu
read the seun Onigbinde , Your Budget Ministry just appointed ?
This is embarrassing. u need to revoke this satanic appointment sirs b ur minister https://t.co/RlR2D9r5K1
— Otunba Olatunji Miki (@Jumwalter) September 13, 2019
I would have believed that Seun Onigbinde was appointed to fix the problems he noticed and for his knowledge of a possible solution.
But, this
???? pic.twitter.com/SwvV4fR6IW— Akinpelumi Akinboye (@theakinakinboye) September 13, 2019
Time for Seun Onigbinde to walk the talk. Time to enthrone vital reforms he has been passionately advocating in government budget planning, implementation and monitoring.
— Opemipo Adeniyi (@Opeedo) September 13, 2019
I am pleased that Seun Onigbinde has been given an appointment by the Federal Govt. When I tell young people not to be too extreme, they abuse me as “Fencist.” In 2015, you are all in for Buhari. 2019, you are all in against Buhari. Your country is bigger than Buhari. Think am o.
— Dr. Joe Abah (@DrJoeAbah) September 13, 2019
A recipient of several awards and Obama Foundation’s Scholar, Onigbinde is regarded as an avid believer of data-driven journalism and many are still asking whether his appointment by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari will bring an end to many anomalies in the country’s budget circle and implementation.