President Goodluck Jonathan will formally hand over to the president-elect, Maj. Gen. Muammadu Buhari (rtd.) on May 28.
Accordingly,
Jonathan has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to
submit their handover briefs to the office of the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation (SGF) on or before April 20.
The announcement was made after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa.
The FEC meeting was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Briefing
State House correspondents shortly after the FEC meeting, Information
Minister, Mrs. Patricia Akwashiki said "you know we are already in
transition so there is very little to report. What we discussed with the
President in council, he emphasized on the need for all MDAs to submit
their handing over notes to the office of the secretary to the
government of the federation by 20th of this month, that is next Monday.
"So we are going to be very busy this weekend putting our handing over notes together.
"The
president also emphasized that he would require another little briefing
from all MDAs to indicate inherited projects, how far it has been
executed and initiated projects by his administration and the level of
completion, whether completed, ongoing or abandoned. So that was it at
the council meeting.
"We
discussed other issues but we are particularly paying attention to the
transition and how to make it effective. As you are all aware we have
transitional committee already set up by president, headed by the Vice
President. Other than that we have an inaugural committee that is headed
by the SGF.
"So everything we are doing we are doing to achieve smooth transition, getting all our notes together."
According
to the minister, by May 28 the president intended having the formal
handing over done at a dinner, while May 29 would be reserved for the
incoming government.
She added that "by May 28 we expects to have concluded one way governance and we are welcoming incoming government.
"Also
you know May 29th is our democracy day so we have activities lined up
all through that week, showcasing all what we have achieved and all
other things we do normally on our democracy day except that this year
is special with the inauguration of our new president that is coming up
on the May 29th."
Asked
if council meeting will continue or be on hold, Akwashiki said "it is
for the MDAs to submit their notes to the SGF a who will handle the
total package of the handing over to the incoming administration. It
doesn't mean that the is the exact notes that will be passed on.
"There
is a format to follow and so it becomes easier for all the MDAs to
follow the template. If they do that it will be easier for the president
to compile everything.
"The
format is to ensure you submit everything before they pass it to the
incoming government. That is not to say that governance has stopped, of
course we are in government until the day the president-elect takes oath
of office.
"There
is no space vacuum there are things happening. And if you have any
pending contract approval it has to be submitted before the 13th of May.
Everything that requires the president's approval should be submitted
before April 13.
"We
also do not want the incoming administration to accuse us of rushing
projects which is normal so we are guided by that. And if you have
approvals we are going to have federal executive council every week, the
last one that will be the valedictory one will be on May 20.
"So governance is not stopping, we are still working and in the event you have approvals it must be concluded before 13." -
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