By Felix Umande

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated six executive directors for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, in a letter to the Senate.

Three nominees are being reappointed, while three are new. Once approved by the Senate, all nominees will serve a five-year term.

The renominated executive directors are Mr. Abiodun Adeniji, Executive Director, Finance and Accounts; Mr. Ogbugo Kalu Ukoha, Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure; and Dr. Mustapha Lamorde, Executive Director, Health, Safety, Environment and Community.

The new nominees are Mr. Mobolaji Tajudeen Musa, Executive Director, Hydrocarbon Processing Plants, Installations and Transportation Infrastructure; Ms. Ogechukwu Modie, Executive Director, Economic Regulations and Strategic Planning; and Mr. Said Abutalib, Executive Director, Corporate Services and Administration.

The President urged the Senate to consider the nominations expeditiously to ensure institutional continuity and strengthen the Authority’s oversight capacity.

Tinubu also approved appointment of Mrs. Jumoke Gafar as Secretary to the Board and Legal Adviser, subject to completion of statutory processes under Section 46 of the Petroleum Industry Act.

In April, President Tinubu appointed Engr. Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as Chief Executive of the agency.

By Nick Ibe, Abuja

Applicants undergoing recruitment into the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, have been told not to pay for the mandatory Drug Integrity Test, according to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA,.

The agency says the Ministry of Interior has already made bulk payment to cover the exercise, warning candidates against making payments to NDLEA officials, testing centres or any other channel.

The agency further directed applicants to access the NDLEA Drug Integrity Test portal through designated links on their respective institutional portals to complete registration and other necessary documentation ahead of the screening.

By Son Tertsea, Abuja

Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has advised the Trade Union Congress, TUC, to negotiate its terms with the Federal Government, as it cannot reject the N70,000 transport allowance NLC agreed with government for public sector workers.

TUC rejected the proposed N70,000 monthly transport allowance for federal workers, which NLC agreed upon after a meeting.

According to TUC, the federal government has the resources to pay N300,000.

TUC in a statement signed by Festus Osifo and Nuhu Toro, President-General and Secretary, respectively, said in view of the prevailing economic hardship facing workers and the wider population, as well as the proposed measures to address it, what was needed was a salary increase and the implementation of the Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU, agreement.

However, while participating in an interactive programme on Channels TV, Thursday, Ajaero, NLC President, said officials of the TUC did not negotiate with the federal government on the subject.

He said TUC’s position on the allowance was improper.

He noted that the leadership of the TUC does not have the power to reject the agreement terms of a sister-agency.

In the NLC president’s words:

“I would have preferred a situation whereby if NLC was asking for one Naira, TUC will be asking for 10 Naira.

“TUC never asked for intervention as a result of the rising cost of transportation. On the issue of asking for wage increase, does the government gift wage increase? There must be a process put in place.

“I’m worried for some time now why you will say you reject something that was not given to you. That is not proper.

“You don’t have the power to reject what a sister agency negotiates. You have the power to ask for your own.”