The Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan will hand
over power to the President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.),
on May 28, about 24 hours before the actual inauguration date.
over power to the President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.),
on May 28, about 24 hours before the actual inauguration date.
The Minister of Information, Patricia
Akwashiki, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of
the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
Akwashiki, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of
the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
Akwashiki said Jonathan would perform the ceremony at a dinner on the eve of the May 29 Democracy Day.
She said, “By May 28, the President
intends to have the formal handover done at a dinner so that we can
reserve May 29 for the incoming government.
intends to have the formal handover done at a dinner so that we can
reserve May 29 for the incoming government.
“By May 28, we are expected to have concluded our own government and we are welcoming the incoming government.
“Also you know May 29 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 May 29.”
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 May 29.”
She added that the President had directed
all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to prepare their handover
notes and submit same to the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, on or before April 20.
all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to prepare their handover
notes and submit same to the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, on or before April 20.
She said it was Anyim’s responsibility to compile the notes which would form Jonathan’s handover document to Buhari.
She added that while the valedictory FEC
meeting would hold on May 20, everything that required the President’s
approval must be presented to him latest on May 13 so that the incoming
government would not accuse the outgoing government of rushing projects.
meeting would hold on May 20, everything that required the President’s
approval must be presented to him latest on May 13 so that the incoming
government would not accuse the outgoing government of rushing projects.
The minister said that Jonathan had
directed the MDAs to brief him on inherited projects and the ones
initiated by his administration under their jurisdiction.
directed the MDAs to brief him on inherited projects and the ones
initiated by his administration under their jurisdiction.
She said the briefings were expected to include the status of the projects and their levels of implementation.
The minister added, “The President
emphasised on the need for all MDAs to submit their handover notes to
the Office of the SGF by the 20th of this month, that is next Monday. So
we are going to be very busy this weekend putting our handover notes
together.
emphasised on the need for all MDAs to submit their handover notes to
the Office of the SGF by the 20th of this month, that is next Monday. So
we are going to be very busy this weekend putting our handover notes
together.
“The President also emphasised that he
would require another little briefing from all MDAs to indicate
inherited projects, how far they have been executed and initiated
projects by his administration and the level of completion, whether
completed, ongoing or abandoned.”
would require another little briefing from all MDAs to indicate
inherited projects, how far they have been executed and initiated
projects by his administration and the level of completion, whether
completed, ongoing or abandoned.”
She said the present administration was
doing everything possible to ensure a smooth transition, adding that
Vice-President Namadi Sambo is heading the government’s transition
committee while Anyim is heading the inauguration committee.
doing everything possible to ensure a smooth transition, adding that
Vice-President Namadi Sambo is heading the government’s transition
committee while Anyim is heading the inauguration committee.
Akwashiki however said notwithstanding the transition programme, governance had not stopped in the country.
“That is not to say that governance has
stopped. Of course, we are in government until the day he
President-elect takes his oath of office,” she explained.
stopped. Of course, we are in government until the day he
President-elect takes his oath of office,” she explained.
The Minister of Petroleum Resources,
Diezani Alison-Madueke and her Finance counterpart, Dr. Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala, were among the few ministers who did not attend the
Wednesday FEC meeting.
Diezani Alison-Madueke and her Finance counterpart, Dr. Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala, were among the few ministers who did not attend the
Wednesday FEC meeting.
The meeting was the first to be held after the March 28 presidential election which Jonathan lost to Buhari.
Before the President arrived at the
venue, some ministers, especially the core politicians among them, used
the opportunity to review the polls and their performances in their
various states.
venue, some ministers, especially the core politicians among them, used
the opportunity to review the polls and their performances in their
various states.
They formed small groups to take stock zone-by-zone
The Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili
Adesiyan; Minister of State II, Foreign Affairs, Senator Musiliu
Obanikoro; Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Olajumoke
Akinjide and the Minister of State, Works, Dayo Adeyeye, were seen
engrossed in discussion on the Peoples Democratic Party’s performance in
the South-West while they awaited Jonathan’s arrival at the venue.
Adesiyan; Minister of State II, Foreign Affairs, Senator Musiliu
Obanikoro; Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Olajumoke
Akinjide and the Minister of State, Works, Dayo Adeyeye, were seen
engrossed in discussion on the Peoples Democratic Party’s performance in
the South-West while they awaited Jonathan’s arrival at the venue.