Jonathan appoints Ex-gov Obi as SEC chairman

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has appointed Peter  Obi, former governor of Anambra state, as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Reuben Abati, the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, who made the announcement on Monday, said the appointment was with immediate effect.

The president also relieved Olufemi Thomas as executive secretary/chief executive officer of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), with immediate effect. In his place, Jonathan appointed Olufemi in acting capacity.

Akingbade hails from Ekiti state and holds a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, as well as a Masters in Business Administration. Until his new appointment, he was the general manager, information and communications technology, at the NHIS.

Jonathan also approved the confirmation of Mounir Haliru Gwarzo as director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Gwarzo, who has been acting as director-general of SEC, was appointed to the board of the Commission as executive commissioner in January 2013.

He replaces Arunma Oteh, whose tenure as director-general would be remembered for her long-drawn-out-battle with members of the federal house of representatives after accusing a house committee of demanding bribe from her commission.

When Oteh lefy her post in January, though, SEC released a statement to say she would be remembered for her “passion, purpose, articulation and implementation of reform measures driven by the vision to transform the Nigerian capital market into world class”.

“She was in a hurry to see Nigeria achieve a world-class capital market that will drive development and make Nigeria one of the most attractive investment destination,” it said.