Buhari's Ministerial nominee: 9 things you've not been told about Stephen Ocheni who will replace late Ocholi ~ Zeniths Blog

Buhari's Ministerial nominee: 9 things you've not been told about Stephen Ocheni who will replace late Ocholi

President Muhammadu Buhari sent the names of two ministerial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.

One of the nominees is Professor Stephen Ocheni (Kogi state) who is to replace late James Ocholi (minister of state for labour and employment).

Recall that Ocholi died in March 2016 in a ghastly car accident along Kaduna-Abuja road, less than four months after he was made a minister.

9 things you need to know about Buhari's new ministerial nominee Stephen Ocheni

Stephen Ocheni has been nominated by President Buhari to replace late James Ocholi as minister of state for labour

ZENITHBLOG.com has compiled a list of things you need to know about the man that will be replacing Ocholi.

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1. Ocheni was born on June 25, 1959.

2. He hails from Uwowo in Igalamela local government area of Kogi state.

3. Educational background

Howard University, Washington DC, USA 2006
Crown Agent International Management Training June-July 1996
Management Training Programme in Health Financial Control (USA) 1994
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (M.Sc/Ph.D Programme) 2001-2004
Enugu State University of Technology, Enugu 1988-1990
The Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State 1979-1983
Idah Secondary Commercial College, Idah, Kogi state

3. He is a fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (FCNA), Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria (FCE), member, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (ACTI) and Practising Licence – ANAN.

READ ALSO: Buhari forwards names of two ministerial nominees to the Senate

4. Ocheni was appointed dean of Faculty of Management Sciences Kogi State University Anyigba on January 13, 2015.

5. He was a director of finance and accounts in the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2010 – 2013) and director, office of the accountant-general of the federation (2003 – 2010).

6. He was permanent secretary of Kogi state (September 1998 — November 2003)

7. He was financial controller, World Bank Assisted Kogi state essential drugs programme, Lokoja (1992-December, 1997)

8. He was a lecturer in accounting, taxation and cost /management accounting at the Federal Polytechnic, Idah (1985 – 1992).

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9. He received Kogi state merit award as the best permanent secretary in the state in May 2001 and award for hard work and financial prudence by the Nigerian union of Journalists in October 2010.

Buhari’s cabinet became short of two ministers after Ocholi died in an accident in March 2016 and Amina Mohammed was appointed as UN deputy secretary-general in December 2016.

This new nomination comes barely 24 hours after the Senate suspended confirmation of the 27 persons nominated as Resident Electoral Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission by President Buhari.

The angry lawmakers threatened to reject all list of appointees that Buhari sends for confirmation in protest against the president’s refusal to sack Ibrahim Magu as the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission despite his repeated rejection by the lawmakers.

Watch a ZENITHBLOG.com video of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) demanding autonomy.