Tinubu appoints George Akume SGF

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday appointed a former Minister of Special Duties, George Akume, as Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Shortly after four days in office, Mr Tinubu has made several appointments, including the outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, as his new Chief of Staff and a former Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, as Deputy Chief of Staff.

Tinubu has also met with security chiefs to discuss matters of national security.

Here are things you should know about Mr Akume

George Akume was born on December 27, 1953, and is from Wannune Tarka Council Area of Benue State.

He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Ibadan in 1978 and a Master’s degree in Industrial and Labour Relations from the same university in 1986.

Akume was a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and served as the Minority Leader of the Senate from June 2011 to June 2015.

He was also the Governor of Benue State from May 1999 to May 2007 and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army.

Akume was re-elected Senator for Benue North-West in the April 2011 elections, running on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria. He won another term in 2015 but lost to Senator Orke Jev of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2019.

In 2019, President Buhari appointed Akume as Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs.

Punch