Jonathan appoints new heads for SEC and NHIS

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Barely a month to the May 29 handover to President-elect Muhhamadu Buhari, a gale of sack has hit political appointees of the federal government. First to be hit was Suleiman Abba, inspector general of police, IGP, who was relieved of his appointment on Tuesday, April 21, by President Goodluck Jonathan.

While Nigerians were still at a loss on what might have happened that led to his sack, his successor was announced. Just while the public was still trying to know what manner of chief police officer, Solomon Arase, the new IGP, would be, the sack of Femi Thomas, executive secretary/chief executive officer of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, was announced by Reuben Abati, special adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, today, less than a week after Abba was given the boot.

In Thomas’ place, the President approved the appointment of Olufemi A. Akingbade. The new boss of the health insurance management body hails from Ekiti State and holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science as well as a master’s in Business Administration. Until his appointment, he was the general manager, ICT, in the NHIS.
Similarly, the President approved the confirmation of Mounir Haliru Gwarzo as director-general, DG, of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Gwarzo who has been acting as DG of the Commission was appointed to the Board of the Securities and Exchange Commission as executive commissioner in January 2013.

President Jonathan also approved the appointment of Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State, as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

No one knows who is next. But the All Progressives Congress has since alerted the public to what it called hurried recruitment into the civil service and hasty appointment of cronies of the outgoing administration of President Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party. Abati has deplored the accusation as unfounded, insisting however, that President Jonathan still has to run government till the handing over to his successor.