Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, Martin Luther Agwai, has been removed from office by President Goodluck Jonathan.
A statement issued on Tuesday by Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, disclosed that Ishaya Dare Akau has been appointed to take over from Agwai.
Abati explained in the statement that Agwai was sacked based on the President’s efforts to continuously reposition Federal Government’s agencies for optimal delivery.
“In furtherance of his efforts to continuously re-energise and reposition agencies of the Federal Government for optimal service delivery, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has appointed Mr. Ishaya Dare Akau as the new Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme.
“Mr. Akau, whose appointment takes immediate effect, replaces Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (rtd.), who served as Chairman of the SURE-P until today (Tuesday).
“The new SURE-P Chairman hails from Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State and holds Bachelors’ Degrees in Arts and Law.
“Mr. Akau comes to the job with years of experience as a high-level administrator in the nation’s public service. His record of service includes tenures as Chairman of the Kaduna State Universal Education Board and Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission.
“President Jonathan thanks the outgoing Chairman of SURE-P, Gen Agwai, for his service to the nation and wishes him well in his future endeavours,” the statement by the Presidency on Tuesday said.
Agwai was appointed by Jonathan in February 2014. He replaced the pioneer Chairman of the agency, Christopher Kolade, who resigned his appointment. Before then, the former Chief of Army Staff was the deputy chairman.
At a recent lecture to mark the 78th birthday of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Agwai has said change in leadership was unavoidable, declaring that the leaders must accept it and move on with it.
“In life, you find out that everything needs change, if that is what the community wants, what the people want, you must give it to them and as such, it becomes inevitable.
“You can have everything nice, but if you don’t have the right leadership to propel it, it cannot go anywhere. Integrity matters, doing what is good for the larger society, and not just what you want to do for a narrow society to please yourself,” he said at the occasion.
