Jobs/Appointments
APC Cautions ADC, GNI Against Mocking Ogun Workers
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its governorship candidate in the state, Mr Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI), not to trick workers of Ogun State by their emergency solicitous and patronizing promises vaingloriously aimed at winning votes.
In a statement issued on Friday evening in Abeokuta by its Publicity Secretary, Comrade Tunde Oladunjoye, the ruling party in the state noted that the ADC candidate played a prominent role in the previous administration in Ogun State, which was totally unfriendly to workers.
Mr Oladunjoye stressed in the statement that GNI was deeply involved with the government that owed workers salaries and unpaid deductions, sacked lecturers, dislocated families, and put the state in unprecedented debt trap that Ogun is yet to recover from.
Speaking on the reported promise by the ADC candidate that he will recall workers sacked by Governor Ibikunle Amosun if elected, the APC mouthpiece said, “Our advice is that the ADC and its candidate should not mock the plight of Ogun workers as they, the workers, know by pedigree and association, who the genuine friends of Ogun workers are, and the candidate that could place premium on their welfare in government.
“The question to ask ADC is, where was Mr Isiaka all this while in the concerted struggle to get these workers recalled, including the interventions of prominent traditional rulers like Awujale of Ijebu land? Why did it take his campaign visit to NLC for him to make this emergency promise?”
“It is on record that the unjust sacking of the affected workers was a personal draconian decision of Governor Amosun, who is now promoting a rookie as governorship candidate in the Allied People’s Movement.
“Our party, All Progressives Congress (APC), opposed the sacking of the workers and we made it known on Monday, December 17, 2018 on Sweet 107.1 FM live Programme in Abeokuta, that the next APC Government of Prince Dapo Abiodun would not only reinstate the sacked workers, but will also call back from retirement those that were untimely retired by Governor Amosun.
“Prince Dapo Abiodun also said he will obey the court order directing the reinstatement of the sacked Staff of Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE), Omu Ijebu. Is GNI just waking up?
“It is very important to remind the good people of Ogun State that GNI was part of the eight years rule of the former governor, Otunba Gbega Daniel (OGD).
“He was a very important part of the inner caucus of the government at that time, which made him earn a very sensitive position as the head of the Gateway Holdings and was later presented by OGD as the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) gubernatorial aspirant and later People’s Party of Nigeria’s (PPN’s) governorship candidate in 2011,” Mr Oladunjoye said in the statement.
“The questions to ask ADC and its candidates are many. We will just ask a few: What was his reaction when the OGD government could not pay retired civil servants their pensions and gratuities between 2008 and 2011 totaling over N7.5 billion? What was your role or reaction when over 1,000 workers of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, were sacked in one fell swoop in one day? What was your reaction when over 50 doctors resigned from OOUTH between 2007 and 2011 and others that were left went on strike for nine months that paralyzed health service delivery?
“What was your reaction when billions of naira were owed in salary arrears to all higher institutions in Ogun State by an administration in which you were one of the chief economic strategists? What did you do to stop the government from piling up debt, the highest in the annals of Ogun State, and from which the state is yet to recover?
“Did you ever lift a finger for the workers of TASCE, Omu-Ijebu, who were pauperized, with many losing their lives, by the administration you served? What did you do when the government you were part of made Ogun State to be blacklisted by UBEC via SUBEB for not paying the UBEC counterpart funds from 2008 to 2011, resulting in serious decay in the infrastructures of the primary and JSS schools all over Ogun State?” he asked.
APC spokesman further said that “it will be interesting for GNI to tell us his reaction when the government in which he fully served as economic strategist increased the tertiary school fees by over 300 percent and forced student union leaders to sign a bond acceding to 20 percent automatic yearly increment in school fees? The same government that failed to carry out promotion for teachers and civil servants between year 2008 and 2011.
“The ADC candidate, as the Chairman of Gateway Holdings under the immediate past administration, supervised (in a process devoid of transparency) the controversial auctioning of prized assets of Ogun State to friends and proxies of the then government, which led to the sack of thousand of workers and caused untimely deaths and dislocated families with untold hardship.
“Ogun workers are not daft. They are not ‘brainless’ like Amosun described them. They are actually very discerning and are not fooled by emergency friends and activists.”
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The conclusion of the 2025 Performance Appraisal Exercise of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has resulted in the promotion and step increments of about 1,126 employees of the organisation.
The reward for performance involved the promotion of 547 employees and 579 step increments, reaffirming the company’s unwavering commitment to recognising excellence, rewarding performance and building one of Africa’s most admired workplaces.
AEDC disclosed that these actions reflect its deliberate investment in its people as the energy firm accelerates its transformation into a customer-centric, high-performing electricity distribution company with global standards and Pan-African aspirations.
The promotions and step increments, approved by the management, recognise employees who have demonstrated exceptional commitment, professionalism and outstanding performance in advancing AEDC’s strategic objectives.
However, employees who were not successful in the current appraisal cycle have been urged to remain committed, emphasising that the performance management process is designed to support continuous growth, capability development and future advancement opportunities.
“Our people remain our greatest asset and the foundation upon which AEDC’s future will be built. Today’s announcement is more than a reward for performance; it is a reaffirmation of our belief that excellence should always be recognised, talent should be nurtured and hard work should create opportunities for growth.
“As we continue our transformation journey, we are building an organisation where our employees can develop rewarding careers, realise their full potential and proudly contribute to creating one of Africa’s leading electricity distribution companies,” the chief executive of AEDC, Mr Chijioke Okwuokenye, stated.
He added that AEDC is intentionally creating a workplace where merit, continuous learning, innovation and collaboration drive career progression, while employee wellbeing remains central to its long-term strategy.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigerian international lawyer and anti-corruption specialist, Mr Ibrahim James Pam, has been appointed Acting Director-General of the World Bank Group’s Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO), a key independent accountability body within the institution.
The appointment, approved by the boards of the World Bank Group, will take effect on August 2, 2026.
Mr Pam, who currently serves as Chair of the World Bank Inspection Panel, will oversee the CAO on an interim basis pending the appointment of a substantive Director-General and Vice President of the World Bank Group Independent Accountability Mechanism.
The development was announced in a statement issued by the Head of Communications of the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman, Emily Horgan, who said the arrangement was designed to ensure continuity during the organisation’s leadership transition.
“In view of the forthcoming leadership transition at the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO), the World Bank Group Boards have designated Ibrahim Pam, Chair of the Inspection Panel, to concurrently serve as acting CAO Director General, effective August 2, 2026,” the statement said.
“Mr Pam will serve in this role until the new World Bank Group Independent Accountability Mechanism Director General/Vice President is appointed.”
The Compliance Advisor Ombudsman is the independent accountability mechanism for projects financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), both members of the World Bank Group.
Created in 1999, the CAO reports directly to the boards of IFC and MIGA and handles complaints from individuals and communities affected by projects supported by the two institutions, while promoting environmental and social accountability.
Mr Pam, who is married with children and grandchildren, brings extensive experience in international law, anti-corruption, compliance, human rights and criminal investigations to the role.
He is the son of the late Lt. Col. James Pam, a former Adjutant General of the Nigerian Army, and Mrs Ngo Elizabeth Pam, a human rights advocate who served on the Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission, popularly known as the Oputa Panel, as well as the Plateau Peace Conference.
Over the years, Mr Pam has built a distinguished international career investigating human rights violations, financial crimes, fraud, institutional misconduct and mass atrocities across several jurisdictions.
He has served as a member of the World Bank Inspection Panel since January 2023. Prior to that, he was Head ad interim of the Independent Redress Mechanism of the Green Climate Fund in Songdo, South Korea, between August 2022 and March 2023, after leading the Fund’s Independent Integrity Unit from November 2016 to November 2022.
His professional experience also includes roles with the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), where he served as Resident Investigator with the UN Mission in South Sudan, the African Development Bank’s Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department, and the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Earlier in his career, he provided legal support to Nigeria’s Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission (Oputa Panel) between 2000 and 2002.
A graduate of the University of Jos, Mr Pam began his legal career at J.Y. Pam & Co. before working in private legal practice, the banking sector and later the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
While at the ICPC, he received the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, which enabled him to earn a Master’s degree in International Law and Justice Policy from the London School of Economics in 2005
His appointment is expected to strengthen the World Bank Group’s accountability and oversight framework, given his extensive background in governance, integrity, compliance and international justice.
Jobs/Appointments
UNIZIK Appoints Nicholas Okoye Visiting Senior Lecturer, to Strengthen Digital Assets Education
Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) has appointed veteran investment banker and capital markets expert, Nicholas “Nicky” Okoye, as a Visiting Senior Lecturer in a move aimed at strengthening its capital markets and digital assets curriculum amid the growing global adoption of virtual assets and blockchain-based finance.
The appointment, which takes immediate effect, is expected to deepen the university’s capacity to train enterprise executives, entrepreneurs and policymakers in emerging areas such as cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), tokenisation of real-world assets and other digital financial innovations.
UNIZIK, which hosts one of Africa’s few dedicated Capital Markets faculties, said the appointment aligns with its strategy of equipping students and professionals with the knowledge and practical skills required to navigate the rapidly evolving financial ecosystem.
The university, in its statement, described the appointment as a significant milestone for the institution.
“Securing someone of Nicky Okoye’s calibre is a game-changer. As global finance evolves, we must equip enterprise executives, entrepreneurs and policymakers with the technical knowledge required to build long-term capital formation strategies. His real-world experience is invaluable.”
Okoye brings decades of experience across global and Nigerian financial institutions. His career includes serving as a Financial Consultant at Merrill Lynch in the United States, Chief Strategy Officer at the Nigerian Exchange Group, and Founding Group Executive Director of Operations and Strategy at Transcorp Group Plc, where he led fundraising initiatives that collectively exceeded $1 billion.
He currently leads the Global Investment Advisory Community (GIAC), a coalition of local and international banks, asset managers and fintech firms working to develop a digital assets ecosystem across Africa and the Caribbean.
Beyond the private sector, Okoye has contributed to public policy, providing advisory support to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on capital market regulatory frameworks.
Stakeholders in the financial services sector have welcomed the appointment, expressing optimism that his academic engagement would help build capacity among investors and professionals as Nigeria expands its digital finance ecosystem.
Okoye also holds an honorary Doctor of Business Administration from Enugu State University of Technology, awarded in recognition of his contributions to enterprise development and business excellence.
He previously served on the Presidential Jobs Board and the National Council of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, where he provided strategic advice on economic development. Between 2014 and 2018, he advised the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Project Triple E, an initiative designed to strengthen indigenous participation in the upstream oil and gas value chain by integrating community-based contractors.
The appointment comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to establish a robust regulatory framework for digital assets. The Federal Government recently inaugurated a National Virtual Assets Council to coordinate the oversight and regulation of virtual and digital assets in the country.
The council is chaired by the Central Bank of Nigeria, with support from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nigeria Revenue Service, as part of broader efforts to promote innovation while ensuring investor protection and financial system stability.
