By Nkechi Onyedika-Ugoeze, Abuja
The Federal Government has inaugurated a 22-man council to facilitate transition for the incoming president and his team.
The council, headed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, will, among other things, ensure the handover process by the current president to the president-elect; organise the security of the president-elect and vice president-elect; facilitate communication between the outgoing president and president-elect and organise a swearing-in ceremony.
Following a directive by President Muhammadu Buhari, the council has convened its inaugural meeting, thus kick starting the transition process across all levels of government, in line with Executive Order No. 14 of 2023.
Inaugurating the council on behalf of Buhari, the SGF said the event marks another historic moment for the administration and demonstrates its commitment to strengthening key governance institutions that support democratic process.
He noted that Buhari, in furtherance of his commitment to allow a fair and credible electoral process and hand over the reins of power to the next president, on February 7, 2023, signed Executive Order No. 14 on Facilitation and Management of Presidential Transitions.
This provides legal framework for a seamless transition of power from one administration to another.
Mustapha observed that though the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria sets out overarching framework for assumption of office of the president, this is the first time that the Federal Government will establish a detailed process for managing presidential transition at the federal level.
He said the President expects that the transition process will be replicated across states.
Source: The Guardian