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Tag: Appointments

  • APC fumes over Amosun’s ‘last minutes’ appointments, contracts

    APC fumes over Amosun’s ‘last minutes’ appointments, contracts

    Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress(APC) yesterday kicked against new appointments and transactions by Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, saying these transactions would not be binding on the in-coming government in the state.

    In a statement by the Publicity Secretary of the Caretaker Committee of APC in the state, Tunde Oladunjoye, it alleged that Governor Ibikunle Amosun- led administration has engaged in last minutes awards of contracts, withdrawals from treasury, sales of land and illegal recruitment of Senator Amosun’s cronies into senior positions of the Ogun State Civil Service, ostensibly to tie the hands of its successor.

    APC noted that such reported transactions are shocking, and warned members of the general public that such hurried deals would not necessarily be binding on the incoming administration.

    The party stated: “It has come to our notice that the outgoing administration of His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, is busy with last minute awards of contracts, selling and auctioning of government properties, and secret recruitments into the civil service, in a way to tie the hands of the incoming Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

    “While we find these reported last-minutes awards of contracts, withdrawals from treasury, sales of land and illegal recruitment of Senator Amosun’s cronies into senior positions of the Ogun State Civil Service, very shocking, our party wishes to warn the members of the general public that such hurried transactions would not necessarily be binding on the incoming administration.

    “We urge Ogun State’s top senior civil servants not to be part of the desperate moves of the departing governor to undermine socio-economic stability of our state, by engaging in, condoning or being part of any act that breaches or constitute a flagrant abuse of laid-down rules, regulations and due process.

    “It is our belief that an administration with less than two months to handover, should, by now, be preparing its handover notes for a smooth transition, instead of digging pits for the incoming government.

    “May we also reiterate here that all loans, overdraft and financial obligations that do not follow due process, including the approval of the Ogun State House of Assembly, would not be honoured…”

  • Appointments: I have been fair to you enough, Buhari tells Igbos

    Appointments: I have been fair to you enough, Buhari tells Igbos

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said his administration has been fair to the South East states going by their appointments into the federal cabinet.

    The president also insisted that the appointed of heads of security agencies in his government was purely on competence and merit.

    The president said this while addressing the Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Achebe, and other traditional and religious rulers at the palace of the monarch in Anambra state.

    He was in the state to campaign for re-election.

    The president made the comments in response to allegations raised by the traditional rulers about the marginalisation of the South East states, particularly in the military.

    Buhari, who commended the courage of the leaders in speaking their minds, told them that he had been fair to all the regions of the country since his assumption of office on May 29, 2015.

    “I am pleased that you have the courage to present issues about your constituency but I expect you to be more patriotic in your presentation,” he said.

    “In the south east, there are five states, in the north, there are 19 states. In the south east, out of the five states, I think five members of the Federal Executive Council are from this region, Trade and Investment, Foreign Affairs, Labour, Science and Technology, and seven of the northern states have only ministers of state,” he said.

    Buhari said he appointed most people into the country’s security architecture without knowing them personally, except based on their professional records.

    “I think I tried to be fair. And you can ask these ministers. I never asked them how are they running their parastatals, the boards. I appointed them and I trust them. I allow them work.”

    He said the same complaints from the South East have been coming from other parts of Nigeria but that they do not reflect the truth.

    “I don’t have to tell you what noise the other states are making especially when compared to the votes I got in 2015. So, I think I try to be fair.

    “Those of you who were in the military even in the Biafran Army, know that the entry point is the same and you go for basic training, until you go to your formations or institutions whether it is Army, Navy, AirForce or the police.

    The most competent or senior person is the one that gets there.

    “If there are half a million soldiers, only one man can be the chief of Army staff at a time. This is so for the rest of the troop. In recruitment, we make sure that by states, people are recruited. At least, this is what I do, people are recruited from each state. For those who manage to get recruited, it’s up to them to get to the top if they are professional and work for it.

    “The present chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff even the previous Inspector General of Police that just left, I didn’t know them personally before I appointed them. I follow records,” the president said.

    He said even the current acting Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Adamu, was appointed based on merit.

    “The same thing with the IG, that one was appointed last week. I don’t think I have ever seen him, I follow records. So, appointments in the Armed Forces and other law enforcement agencies depends on individual performance after recruitment not where you think you come. At least between me and God, this is what I do,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the president also insisted that on infrastructure his government has done a lot for the south east region.

    “On the issue of infrastructure, a lot of you that are here know that the last time the Enugu/Onitsha road was done was during the PTF days and it was also done again from Enugu to Port Harcourt,” he said.

    He urged the traditional rulers in Anambra state to support the government in improving the security situation of the country.

    Buhari pleaded to the people of the south east to vote for him in the February 16 election.

    Speaking on the fight against corruption, the president said going forward he would jail all those who have over the years run down the fortunes of the nation.

    He vowed that no individual found to engage in corruption will be allowed to go free.

    He attributed his slow pace in prosecuting alleged treasury looters in the country to the need to follow due process of the law, but assured Nigerians of his commitment to restoring the dignity of Nigeria while he serves as president.

    Governor Willy Obiono of Anambra state, who also spoke, thanked the president for releasing N30 billion for the completion of the second Niger Bridge.

    He also commended the president for the government’s intervention on the Enugu/Onitsa road, and the on-going Onitsa/Nsukka road.

     

  • Elections: Buhari seeking other tribes’ votes but does not trust them for appointments – Obasanjo

    Elections: Buhari seeking other tribes’ votes but does not trust them for appointments – Obasanjo

    …says officials of President Buhari’s government will go to hell if they are exposed

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said President Muhammadu Buhari is quick to beg Nigerians from other tribes for votes for his reelection but does not trust them to be appointed into sensitive positions in his government.

    The former president also said those in the present administration will not only go to jail, they will go to hell if their corrupt acts are exposed.

    He also explained why he forgave an ex-Vice-President and Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in an interview with the BBC Yoruba monitored by our correspondents.

    Comparing Atiku with President Muhammadu Buhari, Obasanjo said his former deputy, though not a messiah, was far better than the incumbent President.

    He said, “What I am saying is that where we are today; our present situation, if you look at those who are there today and our boss (Buhari), I insist that Atiku will do better than them.

    “This is not a prophecy. Those in government today, if we expose them, all of them will enter hell; they will not only go to jail. They will go to hell. Whoever that God does not expose his sins to the public is the person whose secret is kept.”

    Obasanjo, however, said he was not privy to the plans of Atiku if he became Nigeria’s next President.

    He said, “I did not say he (Atiku) will behave like Jesus. I did not say he will behave like Prophet Muhammed, but he will do better, in fact twice better than what we have at present.”

    Obasanjo said the President’s performance in the area of the economy was worse than his assessment of his (Buhari) knowledge of the economy in 2015.

    The ex-President said Atiku was not an angel but he had atoned for his sins when he came to him in Abeokuta and sought forgiveness.

    He said, “Those who talked about what I said about Atiku, what about what I said about Buhari? His performance is even worse than what I thought.

    “I said Buhari did not know anything about economy. Have you not seen it? I said he did not know about diplomatic relations, have you not seen it?

    While accusing Buhari of nepotism, Obasanjo said the President gave priorities to his ethnic group when appointing people into sensitive positions.

    Obasanjo added, “Look at what is happening, the person that is leading us says he cannot appoint any other tribes into the posts he considers sensitive because he does not trust them. If he cannot trust my tribe and your tribe what is the benefit? And he still wants my tribe and your tribe to vote for him. So, he can ask us to vote for him but he cannot trust us to be appointed into sensitive positions. What is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander.

    “If you don’t trust us, how do you want me to trust you? If you trust me and I misbehave replace me with another person. But if only your maternal and paternal relatives are the only people you can appoint because they are the only people you can trust…

    “In Nigeria, where we have tribes numbering about 500, you now said you could not trust some people. That is what we are saying.”

    Obasanjo also berated Buhari’s economic policies, saying “Look at our economy, is it the way it should be? Our economy can never develop if foreign investors do not come to invest in the economy . But, as it is, they are not coming into the country and they will never come.”

    On the activities of Boko Haram, Obasanjo lamented that the insurgents were deadlier than they were before the present administration.

     

  • Fayemi terminates Fayose’s last minute appointments

    Fayemi terminates Fayose’s last minute appointments

    The Ekiti Executive Council at its sitting on Wednesday approved the cancellation of certain key appointments made by former Gov. Ayo Fayose in the twilight of his tenure.

    The review also affects all other appointments made into the state’s public service.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, who briefed newsmen at the end of the meeting, said that all Executive Secretaries appointed after the July 21 governorship election in the state were to revert to their former positions.

    He said all other appointments into the Public Service that did not go through due process, involving biometrics would be reviewed by an EXCO Committee.

    The state executive said that the committee would be headed by the Deputy Governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi.

    The committee, according to him, is also to determine available vacancies within the public service which will lead to the commencement of fresh recruitment process.

    Oyebode said that other members of the committee would be the Acting Head of Service, the Secretary to the State Government, the Commissioner for Finance and the Chief of Staff to Gov. Kayode Fayemi.

  • Buhari starved Kwara of juicy appointments after I spent N400m per state… – Saraki

    Buhari starved Kwara of juicy appointments after I spent N400m per state… – Saraki

    An audio clip as emerged online of Senate President, Bukola Saraki accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of starving Kwara indigenes of juicy appointments in federal Ministeries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    The Senate president explained that through his action, President Buhari has further impoverished Kwara indigenes despite spending between N200 million – N400 million on his campaign in all the states except south western states.

    Saraki said had Kwara people been given appointments, they would have been able to approve money for party supporters which would have eased their sufferings.

    The Senate President was heard saying this in an audio clip while addressing Peoples Democratic Party members recently.

    The audio was first posted by blogger, Kayode Ogundamisi, on his verified Twitter handle.

    Saraki said during the run-up to the 2015 general elections, he campaigned for President Muhammadu Buhari in every state of the country except the six South-West states.

    He said he spent between N200m and N400m per state with the hope that when the All Progressives Congress got into office, party faithful would be rewarded either financially or through appointments.

    The Senate President, however, said Buhari decided to punish the people of the state by starving them of appointments.

    Saraki said, “What is the benefit of people that are campaigning for the APC? What is their track record? Use me as an example. When I left the PDP for the APC in 2014 and was campaigning for the APC like never before, we went to every state to campaign with Buhari up until the election time.

    “Out of the 36 states, I paid election money in 30. Some collected N300m while some collected N400m, some collected N200m. The only states, where I had nothing to do with was in the South-West.

    “Even on the phone I was calling and giving banks instructions. Our thinking was that when we get elected, we would get the majority of appointments. I even told majority of you then that we shall all be going to Abuja together after the election.

    “I thought some of you will be appointed to head federal agencies like road maintenance, like FERMA, NITDA, NPA and others. Because I know that if any Kwara son becomes even just the ED of UBEC, I know what he can approve from his desk. Whether N1m or N2m.

    “But for the first time, since we joined politics, you have a President of the Senate or even speaker that cannot appoint a cleaner. I am not referring to board appointments like board appointment which just collect money per sitting. If you look at the agencies they appoint executive positions, what do you want me to say?”

  • Just in: Buhari makes new appointments [Full list]

    Just in: Buhari makes new appointments [Full list]

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of five Chief Executive officers and two Executive Directors of some Federal Agencies.

    This was disclosed in a statement issued by Mr Olusegun Adekunle, Permanent Secretary (General Services) Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Friday in Abuja.

    According to him, Mr Okechukwu Ukwuoma, Director-General, National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM) is re-appointed for a final term of four years with effect from July 22.

    Also, Prof. Victor Adetiloye, Chief Medical Director (CMD), Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, was re-appointed for the final term of four years with effect from Sept. 22.

    Buhari also approved the appointment of Amb. Abdul-Jalil Suleiman as the Director-General, Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), for an initial term of four years with effect from Sept. 17.

    Also appointed was Dr Bassey Abasi as Chief Medical Director (CMD), University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, for an initial term of four years with effect from Sept. 22.

    Capt. Junaid Abdullahi was appointment as the Executive Secretary, Border Communities Development Agency (BDCA) with effect from Sept. 22 for an initial period of four years.

    The president also appointed Mrs Mojoyi Dekalu-Thomas as Executive Director (Liability Management) of Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO) for an initial term of four years with effect from Sept. 20.

    Mrs Chinedum Olisakwe- Lawrence’s appointment was renewed as the Executive Director (Corporate Services) of Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO) for a second term of four years with effect from Sept. 20.

    The President enjoined the appointees to regard their appointments as a call to National Service and to carry out their responsibilities with uprightness, diligence and prompt response to the yearnings of the public.

    He also charged them to bring their wealth of experience to bear in the discharge of their duties.

  • Ekiti Muslims reject Fayemi’s appointments

    The Muslim community in Ekiti state on Thursday rejected what was called lopsidedness in the three appointments made so far by Governor Kayode Fayemi, since he was sworn in on Tuesday.
    The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that state Coordinator of the state chapter of the National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations, (NACOMYO), Mr. Tajudeen Ahmed, made the displeasure of the group known at a media briefing, after a protest staged at the Ado Ekiti Central mosque.
    He described the appointments made so far by the new governor as not only lopsided, but also a grand plan to totally marginalise the Muslim community in the state.”
    The Muslims faithful said the appointment of the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff and the Chief Press Secretary was against balance and fairness against the Muslim community which Fayemi promised.
    ” The exclusion of Muslims from the principal officers of this administration is worrisome, unjust, condemnable and unacceptable.”
    ” The Ekiti Muslim community saw the appointments as a calculated attempt to exclude Muslims from the fundamental aspect of decision making process in Ekiti State.”
    ” Excluding Muslims from the first three important appointments announced by the governor is shocking and highly disturbing to all Muslims in the state”, he said.
    The group said Muslims in the state constituted about 40 per cent of the Ekiti State population, and added that the governor was given their total support during the governorship polls.
    According to him, the exclusion of the Muslims in this regard is a violation of the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended).
    “The exclusion of Muslims from the core principal appointments of Dr. John Kayode Fayemi is a derogation of the motto of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as provided in Section 15 (1) of the 1999 constitution (as amended)
    ” Rather than projecting “Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress”; the recent appointments made by the Government will breed “disunity, commotion and backwardness.”, he said.
    He called on Fayemi to breathe life into Section 14(4) of the constitution which provided that ‘the composition of the government of a state, a local government council, or any of the agencies of such government or council, and the conduct of the affairs of the government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people.
    The muslim community called on the Governor to urgently review appointments and accommodate Muslims.
    “We also call on the governor to ensure inclusion of Muslims in all future appointments to be made at both state and local government levels. This will certainly pave way for the reign of justice, equity and peace in our dear state.”
    Recall that Fayemi on Tuesday night, after his swearing-in, appointed the trio of Mr. Abiodun Oyebanji as Secretary to the State Government; Mr. Biodun Omoleye as Chief of Staff and Mr. Yinka Oyebode as the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.

  • Transcorp Group Announces New Executive and Non-Executive Appointments

    Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp), Nigeria’s leading diversified listed conglomerate has announced new appointments to its Board and executive management.
    Valentine Ozigbo has been appointed as the President/CEO of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc with effect from January 1, 2019. He will succeed Mr. Adim Jibunoh, who is retiring on December 31, 2018. Mr. Ozigbo, currently the MD/CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc, owner of the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Abuja, will bring over 20 years’ experience in banking, business development, hospitality and corporate transformation. A multiple award winner, Mr. Ozigbo holds an M.Sc. Finance from Lancaster University, UK; an MBA in Banking & Finance and a B.Sc. in Accounting from the University of Nigeria. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.
    Owen Omogiafo has been appointed as the MD/CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc effective from January 1, 2019. She is currently the Executive Director, Corporate Services at Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc. She has over 18 years’ corporate experience in organisational development strategy, human capital management, banking, change and business management. She holds a B.Sc. in Sociology & Anthropology from the University of Benin and an M.Sc. in Human Resource Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Mrs. Omogiafo is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), UK and a Certified Change Manager with the Prosci Institute, USA.
    The Board of Transcorp also approved the appointments of Ms. Obi Ibekwe and Mrs. Toyin F. Sanni as Non-Executive Directors, following the retirement of Mr. Kayode Fasola and Alhaji Abdulqadir Jeli Bello. These appointments are effective October 30, 2018.
    Oluwatoyin F. Sanni was Group Chief Executive Officer at United Capital Plc , a position she retired from in June 2018. She has over 25 years of experience in investor services, law and finance. Mrs. Sanni holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Ife, an LLM (Hons) from the University of Lagos as well as a professional qualification of the I.C.S.A. UK and the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (C.I.S) Nigeria.
    Obi Ibekwe holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, U.S.A., a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Lagos and an MBA degree from the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, U.S.A. She has over two decades experience in banking, holding senior executive and senior management positions spanning credit and marketing, credit risk management, human resources and customer service.
    Transcorp Hotels Plc has also announced the appointment of Emmanuel Nnorom as the Chairman of its Board, following the retirement of Alhaji Abdulqadir Bello.
    Mr. Nnorom is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Heirs Holdings, after retiring as the President/CEO of Transcorp. He brings over three decades of professional experience in the corporate and financial sectors, working with publicly listed companies. He is an alumnus of Oxford University’s Templeton College, and a prize winner and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.
    Speaking on these appointments, the Chairman, Transcorp Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, CON, expressed his confidence that the newly appointed chief executives and non-executive directors will further strengthen Transcorp’s core purpose of improving lives across Nigeria.
    “We are pleased to have the diversity, depth and quality of experience that these directors bring to our group. The executive appointments are a testament to our internal succession capacity and the appointees will build on the achievement of their predecessors. By these appointments, we have further deepened our corporate governance capabilities, and firmed up our leadership position in the sectors we invest in”
    Mr. Elumelu went further to thank the retiring Directors for their meritorious service to the Group over the years. He highlighted that the Board of Transcorp will continue to implement its defined strategy, which has led its investee companies being leaders in their industries and to take the Group to the next level.
     
     
     
     

  • Rowdy session as Ekweremadu, other South-East senators accuse Buhari of lopsided appointments

    Plenary at the Senate was rowdy for about 30 minutes after its President, Bukola Saraki, read a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari seeking legislative confirmation of appointments into the board of the Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency.

    Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, raised a point or order to protest against non-compliance by the President with his appointment of heads of Federal Government departments, agencies and parastatals.

    According to him, the recent appointments made by Buhari and for which he had sought legislative approval showed that the nominees were from particular parts of the country.

    The Majority Leader, Ahmad Lawan, however, argued that the appointments were balanced ‎”if you look at the larger picture.”

    Saraki pointed out that the Senate would not act on sentiments and opinion, ruling that the Committee on Federal Character investigate Buhari’s appointments and present a report to the chamber on Tuesday.

    The chamber, however, became noisy as the lawmakers shouted ‘yes’ and ‘no.’

    Apart from Ekweremadu, three lawmakers from the South-East successively raised points of order to ask the chamber to suspend further consideration and screening of nominees pending the presentation and adoption of the report by the Committee on Federal Character.

    Those who protested were senators Chukwuka Utazi, Mao Ohuabunwa and Obinna Ogba‎.

    Saraki, however, insisted that only the report by the committee would determine if the protesters were right or wrong, and if the Senate would continue to act on Buhari’s requests for confirmation of appointments.

     

    Details later…

  • Buhari approves appointment of new heads of four federal agencies

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved new appointments for four (4) Federal Government Agencies.

    He charged the appointees to deliver selfless, exemplary and socially impactful services, with strict observance of the extant policies, guidelines, rules and stipulations guiding the discharge of their offices.

    Mr Olusegun Adekunle, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) made this known in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

    He said that Dr Anasa Sabir has been appointed as the Chief Medical Director for Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) with initial term of four years, taking effect from May 17, 2018.

    Also, Dr Theresa Okoli is the new Provost Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze, Anambra State with initial Period of Four years with effect from May 17, 2018.

    According to him, the other appointees are Dr Emmanuel Ikenyiri, Provost Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku, Rivers State also with initial Period of Four years with effect from 17th May, 2018.

    While Dr Pius Osunyikanmi is the Director/Chief Executive Officer, Directorate of Technical Aid Corps, with a final term of five years with effect from August 10, 2018.

    He noted that, Osunyikanmi’s appointment was in accordance with section 9 (2)b of Directorate of Technical Aid Corps Act, 2004, for a second and final term of five years.