* As the Board held its inaugural meeting
The Federal Government has inaugurated a 22-person Transition Council to facilitate and manage the 2023 Presidential Transition Program and create a smooth transition process for the incoming President and his team.
The council chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, will among others, facilitate the process of handing over the current President to the President-elect; managing the security of the President-elect and Vice-President-elect, including the coordination of security briefings in matters of national post-Election security.
The Council will also coordinate the briefing of the President-elect by relevant public officials; facilitate communication between the outgoing President and the President-elect; preparing the program and organizing the swearing-in ceremony among others.
Consequently, under the direction of the President, the Council has held an opening meeting, thus starting the transition process at all levels of government in line with Perpres No. 14 of 2023.
Inaugurating the council on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, the SGF said the inauguration marked another historic moment for the administration, demonstrating its commitment to strengthening key governance institutions that support our democratic process.
He noted that President Buhari, as a commitment to allow a fair and credible electoral process and hand over power to the next President in May, signed Executive Order No. 14 of 2023 on the facilitation and management of the Presidential transition. which provides the legal framework for the transition of power from one administration to another.
Boss Mustapha noted that although the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria defines the general framework for the assumption of the office of the President, “this is the first time in our history as a country that the federal government of Nigeria will establish a detailed process to manage the transition of the President from the government at the federal level adding that the President expects a process the transition will be replicated among State Governments.
Adding: “In accordance with Executive Order No. 14 of 2023, the Council is assigned the responsibility of managing the necessary facilities including offices and complete personnel for the President-elect and the transition team, performing other activities necessary to ensure the optimal performance of the President’s functions according to Constitution and perform other functions assigned to it under the 1999 Constitution as an amendment.
“The Council shall have all the powers necessary to carry out its functions under this Executive Order and shall conduct its business in accordance with national ethics as provided in Section 23 of the Constitution. Except as provided in the Executive Order, the Council may determine its own procedures. The activities of this Council shall be prescribed to Mr. President in his weekly briefing”.
The SGF in line with Executive Order No.14, appointed the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Dr. Habiba Lawal, as the Secretary of the Presidential Transition Council, adding that he is under the Executive Order, known as the Federal Transition Coordinator.
He called on councilors to put more effort into ensuring the next administration receives all the support it needs to get off to a head start and quickly.
He said: “In a few months, it will be eight years of Buhari’s administration in power. During this time, we have made significant steps to advance the fortunes of our nation, we have also learned lessons that will be useful for the coming administration and in the strength of the trajectory this, our achievements must be preserved.
“Reforms that enable these achievements must be clearly documented and communicated, so that the incoming administration knows what has been done, the basis of the decision, what has been achieved and the opportunity for continuity.
“I promise to support you with everything you need to fulfill your responsibilities as a member of this Council. We must remember that the success of the next administration determines the progress of this great nation.
“The nation relies on us. I believe we will make this government and the whole nation proud. At this time, I am the vice president, inaugurating the Presidential Transition.
“It is with joy and honor that I undertake the onerous task of inaugurating the Presidential Transitional Council, on behalf of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, he added.
According to him, the Council has the following membership: the Secretary of the Government of the Federation – Chairman, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Permanent Secretary, the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and the office responsible for Defense, Interior, Budget and Planning National and Foreign.
Others are, Information and Culture, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Cabinet Affairs, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Public Service, OSGF
Economic and Political Affairs, OSGF, State House, National Security Adviser
Chief of Defense Staff, Inspector General of Police, Director General, National Intelligence Agency, Director General, State Security Service, Clerk of the National Assembly of Registrars of the Supreme Court of Nigeria; and, two representatives, will be nominated by the President-elect.
Responding on behalf of the members, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, said the decision of the president to establish a transitional Council before the presidential election was not only proactive but selfless and very honorable and would not be doubted. remains one of his legacies.
He assured that the council will leave no stone unturned to facilitate a smooth governance transition.