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Navy reshuffles appointment of 56 Rear Admirals in major shake-up
The Nigerian Navy says it has reshuffled the appointments of some top senior officers comprising 56 Rear Admirals and a Commodore to reinvigorate the service towards efficiency.
The Director of Naval Information, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
Ayo-Vaughan said the recent shake-up saw Rear Adm. Olusanya Bankole formerly the Director of Logistics, Defence Space Administration, appointed as the Chief of Communications and Information Technology, Naval Headquarters while Rear Adm. Alexander Bingel, formerly Director, Combat Policy and Tactics, now appointed Director of Logistics, Defence Headquarters.
He said Rear Adm. Ibrahim Dewu becomes the Chief of Defence, Civil-Military Cooperation, Defence Headquarters, while Rear Adm. Kennedy Ezete resumes as the Chief of Administration, and Rear Adm. Livingstone Izu becomes new Chief of Logistics.
Other appointments, he mentioned, are Rear Adm. Musa Madugu, now Admiral Superintendent, Naval Ordinance Depot; Rear Adm. Daupreye Matthew appointed Director of Training, Defence Headquarters while Rear Adm. Zakariya Muhammad appointed Chief of Training and Operations.
“Rear Adm. Emmanuel Nmoyem has been reappointed Director, Human Rights Desks at the Defence Headquarters, while Rear Adm. Ibrahim Shettima, formerly Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, moves to Defence Headquarters as Director of Plans.
“The former Director of Plans, Naval Headquarters, Rear Adm. Monday Unurhiere has been appointed the Chief of Defence Administration, while Rear Adm. Hamza Kaoje, former Director, Equipment Standardisation and Harmonisation, Defence Headquarters has been appointed Group Managing Director, Navy Holdings Limited.
“Rear Adm. Sulaiman El-ladan, erstwhile Chief of Naval Engineering, is now at the Defence Research and Development Bureau at Defence Headquarters as the Director, Marine Research, while Rear Adm. Idi Abbas has been appointed Chief of Naval Safety and Standards,” he said.
According to Ayo-Vaughn, Rear Adm. Mohammed Abdullahi takes over as the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, while Rear Adm. Saheed Akinwande formerly the Commandant, Naval War College Nigeria, has been appointed Director, Operations, Naval Headquarters.
Ayo-Vaughan said that Rear Adm. Istifanus Albara had been redeployed from the ECOWAS Maritime Security Coordination Centre, Abidjan to Naval Headquarters as Navy Secretary, while Rear Adm. Clement Atebi, was reappointed to Naval Headquarters as the Director, Audit.
He added that Rear Adm. Samson Bura had become Director of Logistics at the Defence Intelligence Agency, while Rear Adm. Umar Chugali, formerly Director, Cyber at Defence Space Administration, would take over as the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command.
He explained that those reappointed included Rear Adm. Oluwole Fadeyi, Director, Record Returns and Analysis; Rear Adm. Olusola Oluwagbire was reappointed Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command and Rear Adm. Eugenio Ferreira was reappointed Commander, Operation DELTA SAFE.
According to him, Rear Adm. Mustapha Hassan has been redeployed to Naval War College Nigeria, Calabar, as the Commandant, while Rear Adm. Baratuaipri Iyalla has been appointed Flag Officer Commanding, Logistics Command, Oghara.
Ayo-Vaughn added that Rear Adm. Kohath Levi would take over as the Chief of Naval Engineering, while Rear Adm. Bashir Mohammed, former Chief of Logistics, had been appointed as the Director, Project Monitoring, DHQ, and Rear Adm. Julius Nwagu, now appointed Commandant, Defence Intelligence College.
“Meanwhile, Rear Adm. Patrick Nwatu has been reappointed Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command, while Rear Adm. Mike Oamen, who was the Director, Veterans Affairs, Naval Headquarters is now the Chief of Naval Transformation.
“Also, Rear Adm. James Okosun has been reappointed Commandant, Nigerian Navy Engineering College, Sapele; Rear Adm. Ayodeji Olugbode formerly Managing Director, Admiralty Maritime Services Limited, takes over as Hydrographer of the Nigerian Navy.
“While Rear Adm. Abolaji Orederu formerly Director of Ships Design and Acquisition at the Naval Headquarters has been appointed as the Admiral Superintendent, Naval Dockyard Limited, Victoria Island, Lagos.
“The immediate past Commander, Naval Drafting, Rear Adm. Habilla Zakaria resumes to the Headquarters Naval Doctrine Command as the Flag Officer Commanding, while Rear Adm. Suleiman Abdullahi, formerly Managing Director, Navy Exchange Limited, is now the Director of Logistics, Defence Space Administration at the Defence Headquarters.
“The erstwhile Chief of Accounts and Budget, Naval Headquarters, Rear Adm. Kasimu Bushi has been appointed Managing Director, Navy Hotels and Suites Limited, while the immediate past Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Adm. Joseph Akpan resumes at the Naval Headquarters as the Chief of Policy and Plans.
“Rear Adm. Abdulmajid Ibrahim has been appointed Director, Defence Transformation; Rear Adm. Olumuyiwa Olotu takes over as the Commandant, National Defence College; while Rear Adm. Ibrahim Shehu is appointed Managing Director, Navy Building and Construction Company Limited, and Rear Adm. Abdullahi Ahmed has been appointed Deputy Chief of Defence, Space Administration.
“Rear Adm Fredrick Damtong resumes as the Admiral Superintendent, Naval Shipyard Limited; Rear Adm. Abdul-Rasheed Haruna has been reappointed as the Chief Staff Officer, Headquarters Eastern Naval Command while Rear Adm. Hamza Ibrahim has been appointed Managing Director, Admiralty Marine Services Limited,” he added.
The Naval Spokesman said that Rear Adm. Sunday Oyegade had been appointed Director, Project Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation, while Rear Adm. John Mamman was reappointed Chief Staff Officer, Headquarters Western Naval Command and Rear Adm. John Okeke was re-appointed Chief Staff Officer, Headquarters Central Naval Command.
He added that Rear Adm. Olatunde Olodude, the former Fleet Commander, Western Fleet would resume at the Naval Headquarters as the Director of Plans, while Rear Adm. Peter Zakaria had been appointed Chief Staff Officer, Headquarters Logistics Command and Rear Adm. Sunday Atakpa reappointed Chief Staff Officer, Headquarters Naval Training Command.
“Rear Adm. Abdul-hamid Baba-Inna is now Director of Administration; Rear Adm. Patrick Effah is now Director of Naval Intelligence and Rear Adm. Abubakar Mustapha assumes office as the Director of Training, Naval Headquarters while Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie takes over as the Deputy Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.
“Rear Adm. Olusegun Soyemi is appointed Director of Policy while Rear Adm. Abraham Zipelle, formerly Commandant Defence Intelligence College now moves to Naval Headquarters as the Director of Manning.
“Furthermore, Commodore Omotola Olukoya who was the Commander, Central Pay Office resumes as the new Chief of Accounts and Budget, Naval Headquarters,” Ayo-Vaughn said.
President Bola Tinubu on Friday, approved the appointment of eight new Federal Permanent Secretaries.
The appointment was contained in a statement issued by the president’s Special Adviser on Media & Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale
He said the permanent secretaries were appointed to fill in existing and impending vacancies of some states and geo-political zones in the top administrative cadre of the Civil Service of the Federation.
According to Ngelale, they were appointed after a diligent selection process by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
The new Permanent Secretaries are, Dr. Emanso Umobong Okop – Akwa-Ibom, Obi Emeka Vitalis – Anambra, Mahmood Fatima Sugra Tabi’a – Bauchi, Danjuma Mohammed Sanusi – Jigawa, Olusanya Olubunmi – Ondo, Keshinro Maryam Ismaila – Zamfara, Akujobi Chinyere Ijeoma (South-East), Isokpunwu Christopher Osaruwanmwen (South-South).
“The President anticipates that the new Federal Permanent Secretaries will exercise absolute dedication, diligence, and fidelity to the nation in the discharge of their functions and ensure optimum service delivery to the Nigerian people”, the statement added.
Gov. Usman Ododo of Kogi says the choice of the state as a special agro-industrial processing zone by the Federal Government is a step in right direction.
Ododo said this when he hosted a delegation from the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security on Friday in Lokoja.
He explained that his administration was ready to meet all requirements for the establishment of a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in the state.
The project ,which is an initiative of the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Kogi government, is expected to attract significant foreign and domestic private sector investment into the state.
The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone is expected to process maize, cassava, rice, palm oil, cashew, sugarcane and fish, in line with the commitment of Gov Ododo to transform Kogi into an agro-industrial hub.
The governor said: “We have already allocated 254 hectares of land in Ukpake, AjaoKuta Local Government Area for the purpose of the special agro-industrial processing zone.
“Our decision to establish the agro-industrial processing zone in Ukpake was due to its strategic location and proximity to essential resources such as water supply, electricity, gas, a railway line linking Kogi and a number of states and the proposed international cargo airport in Adogo ,which is a few kilometers from the proposed site of the agro-industrial facility.
“We wish to assure you that Kogi government will do everything possible to provide the enabling environment for the selection of the state for the phase II of the project and its eventual take off.
“This is because it is in line with my administration’s policy on industrialisation and the strong will to guarantee food security in the state through investment in agriculture.
“We are also aware that such investment in agricultural value chain will increase productivity, provide access to market for farmers and provide job opportunities for the teeming population of the state.”
Ododo commended the African Development Bank for the initiative, which he said would enhance job creation and guarantee food security in Kogi and Nigeria ,at large.
In his remarks, Dr. Bashir Ibrahim-Gaya, who led the AfDB delegation, said the assessment tour was intended to verify the readiness of states to be selected in the phase II for the establishment of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone.
Ibrahim-Gaya explained that the SAPZs were being implemented in 18 countries across Africa, including Nigeria.
According to him, the phase I in Nigeria, covering seven states ,including the Federal Capital Territory, has commenced.
“Our team is here in Kogi to assess the state’s readiness as a possible beneficiary in the phase II of the project, ” he said.
In their separate remarks, the State Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Asiwaju Ashiru Idris and Commissioner for Agriculture,Mr Timothy Ojomah, assured of the political will by the state government to see to the realisation of the project in the state.
Ojomah said the proposed agro-industrial processing facility would be supported by adequate and reliable supply of raw materials and semi-processed agricultural produce from the state Agricultural Transformation Centres in Alape, Anyigba and Osara.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged Nigerians to prevail on the Federal Government (FG) to grant its demands for better welfare and administrative conditions in public universities.
The union made the request on Friday at a news conference held at the Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu.
The Zonal Coordinator, ASUU Calabar Zone, Mrs Happiness Uduk, said that the only way to avert the imminent nationwide strike was for the State and Federal Governments to meet the union’s demands.
Uduk said that the body had given a two-week ultimatum for its demands to be met, warning that failure to do so would result in an industrial action.
She regretted that the FG had yet to fulfill its commitments under the FG-ASUU agreement in 2009, leading to stagnation in salary scales and overall welfare improvements.
She said: “Government had an agreement with ASUU in 2009, which tells us that for 15 years running, ASUU members have been on the same salary scale, nothing has changed.
“We are requesting that government should complete negotiations it started with us more than 13 years ago, first with the Babalakin-led team, then the Munzali-led team, finally the Briggs-led team.
“These people had completed the negotiations and, if the negotiations had been completed and Mr President has the document, we don’t know why for a year now he has not called us to talk to us about it.
“So, government should as a matter of urgency address our renegotiation and take into account current realities, including inflation rate, exchange rate and whatever needs to go into that,” Uduk said.
She called on the Federal and State Governments to address issues bordering on revitalisation fund for public universities, payment of earned academic allowances and withheld salaries, high taxation and victimisation of ASUU members
She also said that ASUU strongly insisted on the removal of its members in federal universities from the Integrated Personnel Payroll System (IPPIS).
Uduk further said that the high rate of taxation experienced by ASUU members was a result of “the introduction of an obnoxious platform” for salary payment.
“Whatever government has in mind with regards to that, it should use our University Transparency and Accountability Solution or any other platform that would originate from universities rather than the IPPIS,” she said.
She advised that the FG’s students loan scheme be replaced with grants which, she said, would alleviate financial stress on students and improve their academic pursuit.
Uduk called on the FG to stop the proliferation of universities and focus on better funding for the existing ones to improve overall standards within the existing institutions.
She also advocated for the quick resolution of the minimum wage debacle and introduction of a living wage that obtains in saner climes.
On Abia, the ASUU zonal coordinator called on the Abia Government to pay the 11 months salary arrears owed to lecturers in ABSU.
“We are not negotiating any part of that salary for anything because we have worked, taught students and examined them and some of them have graduated,” Uduk said.
She urged the Abia Government to discontinue the use of Treasury Single Account in the payment of ABSU lecturers’ salaries and address the recent inconsistency in the payment of salaries.
According to her, Government is owing April, May and June.
“Let the Abia Government leave payment in the hands of the university administrators and a platform that is consistent with the institution’s operations.
“But it can do its oversight as far as ABSU is concerned,” she said.
Uduk said that some ASUU members at the Ebonyi State University had been suspended for more than two years without salary.
“We call on the Ebonyi governor to look into the peculiarities of the problems in the state university and ensure that our members are reinstated forthwith,” she said.
Uduk said that the ongoing interface with stakeholders was to encourage Nigerians to appeal to the government to do the needful, “otherwise, in two weeks time ASUU will go on strike”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the union had earlier held an interactive session with critical stakeholders, parents, children and traditional rulers, amongst others.
Tinubu appoints eight new Permanent Secretaries
Naira records first appreciation against dollar in nine days
