The President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday in Abuja inaugurated a 19-member Transition Committee to liaise with its Federal Government counterpart to ensure a smooth transition.
A statement issued in Abuja by the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the terms of reference of the committee included developing a clear framework for liaison with the outgoing Administration for purposes of a smooth hand-over/take-over and to receive hand-over documents from Ministries, Departments and Agencies and itemise the most important or most urgent issues confronting the in-coming government.
It said 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.
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 over-view of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, National Communications Commission, Nigeria Customs Service and the Federal Internal Revenue Service.
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 and 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.
The committee has two weeks to conclude its work.
Among those that made the committee were a former Super Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Ahmed Joda; a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David-West; a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, chief Audu Ogbeh; a former Chairman of the National Population Commission, Festus Odimegwu; and the Governor of Rivers State, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja on Wednesday, Buhari charged the committee to ”assess the information provided to you and advice me on its quality and accuracy. It is a simple matter that you must have the right information if you are to shape appropriate policy decisions.
”Needless to repeat, that your Committee – and indeed our 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 can not be undone. Our job is to learn from the mistakes of the past and attempt to avoid similar.”
Buhari hailed the calibre of the committee’s membership, saying they represent some of the best Nigeria can offer.
He described the chairman of the committee, 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.
Full list of Transition Committee members:
1. Mal. Ahmed Joda – Chairman
2. Dr Doyin Salami – Vice-Chairman
3. Mr Boss Mustapha
4. Mal. Muhammad Hayatuddin
5. Alh. Abubakar Malami SAN
6. Brig. Gen. Lawal Jafaru Isa
7. Sen. Hadi Sirika
8. Sen. Audu Ogbeh
9. Barrister Dalong
10. Mrs Bola Adesola
11. Mr Wale Edun
12. Mrs Nike Aboderin
13. Dr Ogbonnaya Onu
14. Mr Festus Odimegwu
15. Chief John Oyegun
16. Gov. Rotimi Amaechi
17. Dr Tam David West
18. Alh. Lai Mohammed
19 Mal Adamu Adamu – Secretary.
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