Posted by By Ihuoma Chiedozie, Abuja on
President Umaru Yar'Adua on Monday relieved his Acting Chief of Staff Dr. Gbolade Osinowo, of his appointment, while also dismissing all political appointees in the now defunt office.
President Umaru Yar'Adua on Monday relieved his Acting Chief of Staff Dr. Gbolade Osinowo, of his appointment, while also dismissing all political appointees in the now defunt office.
Osinowo's removal was part of the restructuring of the administrative system of the State House, which involved the scrapping of the office of the Chief of Staff to the President.
Osinowo, alongside all political appointees in the Office of the Chief of Staff, were relieved of their appointments ‘with immediate effect' as a result of the development.
The President announced the restructuring of the State House administrative system through a statement by his Special Adviser on Communications, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi.
The development is a confirmation of an exclusive report in the June 11, 2008 edition of THE PUNCH that Yar'Adua was under pressure to scrap the cos post.
The report had detailed how the President was being pressured by some forces within the administration to scrap the position because it was purportedly in conflict with the functions of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
As part of the restructuring, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice-President, Chief Mike Oghiadome, was re-designated as the Principal Secretary to the Vice-President.
Before now, only the President had a Principal Secretary.
Another change was the appointment of a Permanent Secretary, Dr. B.K Kaigama, to serve as the Head of the State House Administration as well as the Chief Accounting Officer.
Before the restructuring, the Principal Secretary to the President also served as the Head of the State House Administration and Accounting Officer.
The statement reads, 'President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has abolished the office of the chief of staff to the president and relieved all political appointees in the office of their appointments with effect from today.
'Other changes approved by President Yar'Adua in the administration of the Presidency include the re-designation of the deputy chief of staff to the vice-president, as principal secretary.
'The new Permanent Secretary of the State House, will serve as the Head of State House Administration and its Chief Accounting Officer'.
Although the statement did not mention the political appointees affected by the scrap and eventual dismissal of staff in the office of the Chief of Staff, sources in the Presidential Villa confirmed that others relieved of their appointments include J.O. Ayo, the Senior Special Assistant on Economic Affairs and Princess Gloria Eweka, the Senior Special Assistant on Presidential Matters.
A reliable source however said last night that the sacked staff were assembled on Monday evening and given two hours to vacate their offices.