BARELY two weeks to the 2023 general elections and more than three months to the 29th May handover date, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of a Presidential Transition Council, for facilitating and managing the 2023 transition programme.
The transition council will expectedly liaise with a similar council to be set up by the eventual winner of the 25th February presidential election.
A statement signed by Willie Bassey, Director, Information on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, gave the membership of the council to include
i. Secretary to the Government of the Federation – Chairman
ii. Head of the Civil Service of the Federation
iii. Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice
iv. Permanent Secretaries from the following Ministries and Offices:
a. Defence
b. Interior
c. Finance, Budget and National Planning
d. Foreign Affairs
e. Information and Culture
f. Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)
g. Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs
h. Cabinet Affairs Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF)
i. General Services Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF)
j. Economic and Political Affairs Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF)
k. State House
v. National Security Adviser
vi. Chief of Defence Staff
vii. Inspector-General of Police
viii. Director General, National Intelligence Agency
ix. Director General, State Security Services
x. Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria; and
xi. Two representatives, to be nominated by the President-elect
The statement further said that the Transition Council will be inaugurated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Tuesday 14th February 2023 at noon at the Conference Hall of the SGF.
It enjoined members to attend the inauguration in person.
Meanwhile, the President has also signed the Executive Order No. 14 of 2023 on the Facilitation and Management of Presidential Transitions.
A key feature of the Presidential Executive Order No. 14 of 2023 is the institutionalization of a legal framework that would enable a seamless transition of power from one Presidential Administration to another which is part of President Buhari’s legacy.