Nigeria Content Online

President Goodluck Jonathan has
appointed Oladapo A. Afolabi as the new head of the civil service of
the federation. Mr. Afolabi takes over from Mr. Steve Oronsaye, whose
tenure expires tomorrow. T

The new head of service is a professor
of Applied Chemistry, and was until his appointment, the permanent
secretary of the ministry of education. He will be sworn in on
Thursday.

A release signed by the special adviser
to the president, Ima Niboro, said “The President thanked Oronsaye, the
out going head of service, for his stewardship, and wished him good
luck in his future endeavours.”

Mr. Jonathan also approved the posting
of three newly appointed permanent secretaries and the redeployment of
five others in the Federal Civil Service. The approval came through a
circular issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation,
Stephen Oronsaye, on Monday. According to the circular, Nkechi Ejele,
M. was posted to the Manpower Development Office in the Office of the
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF). Abdulkadir A.
Musa, to Federal Civil Service Commission, and Taiye Haruna was posted
to the special duties office of the Office of the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation (OSGF).

Five other permanent secretaries were
redeployed by the circular. They include Aliyu Salihu Gusau, who was
moved from the Federal Civil Service Commission to OSGF. Umar Farouk
Baba, from OSGF – special duties to youth development ministry. Pius J.
Major was moved from OHCSF to the transport ministry, while S. O.
Willoughby OHCSF-MDO to information & communications ministry.

Lastly, Mohammed S. Bashar was moved
from information & communications ministry to environment.
According to a circular issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the
Federation, Stephen Oronsaye, permanent secretaries affected by the
redeployment and the three new permanent secretaries to be sworn in by
the president on Wednesday, November 24, 2010, are to assume duty at
their new posts not later than Friday, November 26, 2010. “All other
Permanent Secretaries retained their current postings,” Mr. Oronsaye
said in the circular.

The redeployments are coming shortly before the current Head of Service retires from active service.

Before the announcement of Mr.
Orosanye’s replacement, six candidates, each from the different
geopolitical zones in the country were jostling for the job. From the
South, there is Mr. Afolabi, permanent secretary in education ministry,
from Oyo State, who has finally been announced as Mr. Orosanye’s
replacment; Elizabeth Emuren, permanent secretary, mines and steel from
Akwa Ibom State; and D.B Ibe, permanent secretary, economic affairs
from Imo State. Meanwhile, the three other contenders from the North
include Tukur Bello Ngawa, permanent secretary, ministry of works from
Katsina State; Isa Sali, permanent secretary, ministry of power from
Adamawa State, and S.B Ozigis, permanent secretary, ministry of
interior from Kogi State. According to the source, the principle of
federal character otherwise called zoning in the political parlance as
zoning will be the basics for the selection of the new Head of Service.

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