Don’t Create Parallel Govt - FEC Tells Buhari

9 years ago

Don’t Create Parallel Govt - FEC Tells Buhari

President Goodluck Jonathan’s outgoing administration has warned the incoming government of Present-elect Muhammadu Buhari to avoid actions that seem as if it is creating a parallel government when a government is still in place.

Specifically, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), at its weekly meeting yesterday, raised an objection to some terms of reference tabled before it by the transition committee of the incoming All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

Minister of National Planning, Mr Abubakar Suleiman, and his Information counterpart, Mrs Patricia Akwashiki, who briefed journalists after the FEC meeting presided over by the president, said Council warmed that Jonathan’s magnanimity should not be interpreted to mean he was cowardly.

Suleiman noted that FEC opposed the terms of reference of the incoming government’s transition committee, and advised its (Council) members to comply strictly with “the terms of reference as formatted by our (federal government’s) transition committee”.

According to him, FEC observed that the terms of reference of the incoming government’s inauguration committee looked as if the outgoing Jonathan’s government was being intimidated, and warned against any actions that make it look as though they is a parallel administration in place.

He said, “We did receive from the incoming government’s transition committee some terms of reference which we looked at critically, and council did agree that the Dr Goodluck Jonathan government remains the current government of this country.

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“The incoming government should avoid creating a parallel government while the government is still on. We take exceptions to some utterances of some of the terms of reference that look as if the current government is being stampeded or intimidated.

“Council frowned at most of the statements and most of the provisions and Council members are advised to work in line with the terms of reference of the current government.

“The magnanimity of Mr President should not be taken to be cowardice and that is why Mr President and indeed Council members enjoined Nigerian people to see the olive branch extended to Nigerians and international community as a way of keeping this country intact, as a way of ensuring peace in Nigeria, and as such whatever the outcome of the election, what is important is that Nigeria’s national interest should be protected, enhanced and promoted at whatever level we are.”

The minister noted that when the incoming government takes over government, it can bring out its own programmes, its own agenda, and the policies it wants to implement, but until then “this government remains resolute in the various programmes and projects it is pursuing and the government will continue to do that until morning of May 29”.

He added that while the current administration lasted, Jonathan enjoined its officials to continue with their programmes, come out with projects to be commissioned, those that need to be inspected, and to continue to work as government and perform their work without intimidation, especially civil servants.

“Directors-general should see this government as the current government and not do anything that will rock the boat so as not to put this country in a bad light,” he said.

On the progress report from government ministries, agencies and departments, the minister said: “We did mention to Council that as at yesterday, April 28, almost all the MDAs that were advised to submit briefs, handing over notes have compiled except for one or two ministries.

“The committee is having on ground right now two versions of presentations. We have the executive summaries of all the MDAs handover notes and the entire handover notes from almost all the MDAs. The transition process is on course in terms of handover notes and briefs. We have covered almost 80 per cent of our assignments.

“I want to tell you that as at yesterday, the chairman of the incoming transition committee, Mallam Ahmed Joda, conferred with the chairman of the transition committee of the current government, Vice President Namadi Sambo. They had a very robust discussion and they are working together as a family and, I want to believe, for the good of this country things will work”.

Killing of Nigerians in Indonisia unfortunate – Minister
Information minister, Akwashiki described the situation as unfortunate and unacceptable.

She said, “The Foreign Affairs Ministry had been on it before the execution. It is unfortunate that any of our citizens will have to be killed like that.

We do not agree with what Indonesia did, like any other person.

“And we also seize this opportunity to advise Nigerians travelling abroad that these countries make it clear when they issue visas – it is there in red – that ‘penalty for drug trafficking is death’.

“Please let us beware; it is to be respected because that is their law; they will not bulge; they will not shift. In as much as we also condemn, we also advise and we plead with Nigerians outside to desist from carrying drugs – the ultimate end is firing squad”.

The Federal Executive Council presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan approved two private universities presented by the Minister of Education in Delta and Imo states.

Joda, Amaechi, Odigie-Oyegun, others make Buhari’s transition committee
Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Senator Audu Ogbeh and 16 others have been ?inaugurated as members of the 19-man transition committee set up by President-elect Muhammadu Buhari.

The committee, which is to liaise with its federal government counterpart to ensure a smooth transition, has two weeks to conclude its work.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the APC national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, it was disclosed that the terms of reference of the committee, which is headed by Malam Ahmed Joda, includes to develop a clear framework for liaison with the outgoing administration for purposes of a smooth handover/takeover and to receive handover documents from ministries, departments and agencies and itemise the most important or most urgent issues confronting the incoming government.

According to the statement, the committee is also saddled with reviewing and making preliminary assessment of the balance sheet of government with particular emphasis on the status of assets and liabilities of government; cash flow position of the government; quantum of public domestic and external debt of government and their deployment; government’s outstanding contractual obligations and its ability to meet such obligations and the status of implementation of capital projects.

It added: “The committee is also expected to undertake a preliminary assessment of the security challenges facing the country and the counter-insurgency measures taken by the government thus far; the counter policy measures being implemented in the Niger Delta to deal with unrest and major economic crimes in the area. In particular, the status of the Amnesty Programme, the readiness of the police and other national security and intelligence agencies in addressing threats to law and order and provide a brief overview of CBN, NNPC, NCC, Customs and FIRS.”

Other terms of reference of the committee include to suggest “quick fixes” which will result in tangible, visible and practical measures so that “change” will be seen after 30 days, after 100 days, after six months of the administration taking office, and to make any other observations which in view of the committee would be helpful to the transition and take-off of the new administration.

Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja yesterday, the president-elect charged the committee to ‘’assess the information provided to you and advise me on its quality and accuracy. It is a simple matter; you must have the right information if you are to shape appropriate policy decisions.

He reminded the committee members that they, and indeed the incoming government, are not on a witch-hunt or engaged in fault-finding.

“We want the facts and nothing but the facts. What has been done cannot be undone. Our job is to learn from the mistakes of the past and attempt to avoid similar,’’ he stressed.

Buhari hailed the calibre of the committee’s membership, saying they represent some of the best Nigeria can offer. He described the committee chairman, Malam Ahmed Joda, as one of the few surviving links between First Republic civil service to the present day, a man whose versatility includes farming, industry and 21st Century IT and one of Nigerian’s precious assets.

Other members of the committee are Dr Doyin Salami, vice-chairman; Mr Boss Mustapha, Malam Muhammad Hayatuddin, Alhaji Abubakar Malami (SAN), Brig. Gen. Lawal Jafaru Isa, Sen. Hadi Sirika, Barrister Dalong, Mrs Bola Adesola and Mr Wale Edun.

Other members include Mrs Nike Aboderin, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Mr Festus Odimegwu, Chief John Oyegun, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi, Dr Tam David West and Alhaji Lai Mohammed. Malam Adamu Adamu is its secretary.