President Jonathan sacks NNPC GMD, three Executive Directors

There was a shake-up in the nation’s oil sector on Tuesday as President Goodluck Jonathan removed the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Austen Oniwon, and three group executive directors.

Oniwon was asked to go on compulsory retirement.

A new GMD in the person of Mr. Andrew Yakubu has been named for the oil corporation.

The GEDs sent packing alongside Oniwon are Mr. Michael Arokodare, in charge of Finance and Accounts; Mr. Phillip Chukwu, Refineries & Petrochemicals; Mr. Billy Agha, Engineering & Technology.

The affected officials, according to a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, are expected to proceed on retirement immediately.

The President said the firm’s executive management team was re-composed to further strengthen the ongoing reforms and transformation of Nigeria’s petroleum sector, and in furtherance of efforts “to achieve greater transparency and accountability in government.”

Although Oniwon is said to be overdue for retirement, his removal was said to be an attempt by the Jonathan administration to douse the outcry that followed the recent probe into the nation’s fuel subsidy regime.

Some analysts, however, said that the changes were not far-reaching enough given the fact that the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, was not affected.

PunchIT