Despite a presidential directive, former Naval Chief Awwal Zubairu Gambo has elected to continue in his job.
According to news reports, Gambo’s stated action comes two days after President Bola Tinubu fired all service chiefs.
Recall that Tinubu opted to nominate new service chiefs after firing the ones appointed by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to Peoples Gazette sources, Gambo intends to leave office on Friday after addressing many financial issues, including the payment of billions of naira to contractors and navy officers.
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While the other service chiefs have complied with the president’s instruction, Gambo has refused to resign, claiming unsolved concerns.
He insists that he is in charge of releasing monies to the Nigerian Navy and would not leave the office until he has done so.
“The chief of naval staff is still here,” a source from the Nigerian Navy headquarters in Abuja told the outlet.
“We have been begging him to comply with the order of the president and vacate office for the new person that was appointed.”
Gambo reportedly stated that he was responsible for the release of monies to the Nigerian Navy and that he would not leave office until all entitled contractors and navy officers were paid.
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According to sources, he has requested that payments to contractors be delayed by his successor, despite assurances that the Navy would satisfy all lawful contractual duties.
A senior naval officer that spoke with the platform said, “He wants to pay contractors, himself and other naval officers some billions in capital.
“We have never seen anything like this before in our service.
“He should realise that any action he takes after the president’s public announcement is null and void in the Nigerian Navy.”
Furthermore, Gambo intends to disburse millions of dollars for emergency repairs on the NNS Aradu, a major naval ship.
Despite recommendations that the ship be decommissioned and sent to a naval museum, the decision was made.
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“He also mentioned that he was finalising payment for the repair of NNS Aradu, despite our conclusion that the ship should be decommissioned and sent to the naval museum,” a source said.
The navy under Gambo reportedly planned $200 million for repairs, despite being urged to take the ship, which was first commissioned in 1980, out of service.
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