NGScorecard

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission · Borno (North-East) · Appointed November 2015

The Senate twice rejected his confirmation (2016 and 2017) after the DSS submitted reports alleging he failed an integrity screening, leaving him as 'acting' chairman for his entire near five-year tenure. He was suspended and detained in July 2020 following a presidential panel's investigation into allegations of mismanagement of recovered assets by the EFCC under his leadership, and never returned to the role.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission · Kebbi (North-West) · Appointed February 2021

At 40, became the youngest substantively confirmed EFCC chairman, pledging a more technology-driven and less politically selective approach to prosecutions. He served through the remainder of Buhari's term but was suspended by the incoming Tinubu administration in June 2023, within weeks of the handover, on allegations of abuse of office that he denied.

Central Bank of Nigeria · Delta (South-South) · Appointed June 2014 (reappointed 2019)

Reappointed by Buhari for a second five-year term in 2019, Emefiele presided over the naira's move to a multiple-exchange-rate regime, the 2019 land border closure's monetary side, and heavy CBN development-finance intervention programmes such as the Anchor Borrowers' Programme. He remained in office through the end of Buhari's term but was suspended and arrested by the incoming Tinubu administration within days of the May 2023 handover, facing separate corruption and forex-related charges.

Independent National Electoral Commission · Bauchi (North-East) · Appointed November 2015 (reappointed 2020)

Reappointed for a second five-year term in 2020, Yakubu oversaw both the 2019 and 2023 general elections, including the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) under the Electoral Act 2022. The 2023 election's delayed and disputed result transmission drew criticism from opposition parties and observer missions, even as the commission pointed to record technology adoption as an improvement over prior cycles.

Nigerian Army · Borno (North-East) · Appointed July 2015

Held the post for over five years — unusually long by Nigerian military tenure norms — during a period in which Boko Haram fractured but banditry expanded into the North-West and Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks continued in the North-East. Removed in January 2021 alongside all other service chiefs after years of National Assembly and public pressure over the military's failure to conclusively end the insurgency.

Office of the National Security Adviser · Borno (North-East) · Appointed August 2015

A retired Major-General from Boko Haram's home state of Borno, Monguno coordinated national security policy through the fluctuating insurgency, the #EndSARS unrest, and the expansion of banditry and kidnapping into the North-West and North-Central. He remained in the role for the entirety of Buhari's presidency, one of the longest-serving security appointees of the era.

State House · Borno (North-East) · Appointed August 2015

Widely regarded as the most powerful unelected official in the Buhari presidency, controlling access to the president and playing a central role in policy coordination. He died on 17 April 2020 from complications of COVID-19 — one of Nigeria's highest-profile pandemic deaths — while still serving as Chief of Staff.

State House · Kwara (North-Central) · Appointed May 2020

A veteran diplomat and former UN Under-Secretary-General, Gambari succeeded Abba Kyari following his death and served as Chief of Staff for the remainder of the administration, bringing a lower-key, more institutional style to the role through to the May 2023 handover.

Supreme Court of Nigeria · Bauchi (North-East) · Appointed January 2019 (acting; substantive June 2019)

Elevated to acting Chief Justice immediately after Walter Onnoghen's removal, then confirmed substantively. He resigned in June 2022 in an unusually public letter citing the federal government's chronic underfunding of the judiciary and poor welfare for judicial officers — a rare direct public rebuke of the executive by a sitting CJN.

SGF Office · Adamawa (North-East) · Appointed November 2017

Succeeded Babachir Lawal after his sacking over the PINE contract scandal. Mustapha also chaired the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, coordinating the national pandemic response from 2020, and served through to the end of Buhari's term.