2023: Transition Council plans to hand over

…Signs Executive Order No. 14, 2023 to facilitate transitions management

…Buhari constitutes Presidential Transition Council, plans to handover

Olaseinde Gbenga and Denis Mathew

President Buhari has begun his transition plan as promised, as he, on Thursday, set-up the Presidential Transition Council.

Buhari approved the establishment of the Council for facilitating and managing the 2023 transition programme.

…Signs Executive Order No. 14, 2023 to facilitate transitions management

Trailing his transition plan,  the President also signed the Executive Order No. 14 of 2023 on the Facilitation and Management of Presidential Transitions.

This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday, in Abuja, by the Director of Information for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Willie Bassey.

According to the statement, the Transition Council will be inaugurated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Tuesday 14th February 2023 at 12 noon at the Conference Hall of the SGF.

It said the members are expected to attend the inauguration in person.

A key feature of the Presidential Executive Order No. 14 of 2023 is the institutionalisation 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.

Members of the Committee are: Secretary to the Government of the Federation – Chairman; Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice; Permanent Secretaries from the following Ministries and Offices – Defence Interior; Finance, Budget and National Planning; Foreign Affairs; Information and Culture; Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA); Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs; Cabinet Affairs Office; General Services Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

Others Permanent Secretaries of Economic and Political Affairs Office.

Other members are State House National Security Adviser; Chief of Defence Staff; Inspector-General of Police; Director General, National Intelligence Agency.

Also are Director General, State Security Services; Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria; and two representatives, to be nominated by the President-elect.

Recall that against speculations that the President was planning to stay beyond May 2023, Buhari had reiterated his commitment to maintain democratic decorum, stating he would abide by the principles of democracy and would not stay beyond the stipulated time of May 29.