Omeiza Ajayi, Abuja

Newly-sworn in Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Senator George Akume on Wednesday assumed office and received several reports which his predecessor, Boss Mustapha described as “few pending issues” for his kind attention and follow up.

At a handover ceremony at the Shehu Shagari office complex of the SGF, Mustapha who was in the saddle for five and a half years described the job as challenging.

Some of the documents he handed over to Akume were the Report of the Inter-Ministerial Committee to consider pending Bilateral Agreements between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Report of the Presidential Committee on the Review of Number and Strategy for Resourcing Nigeria’s Diplomatic Missions World-Wide; Approval of the Recommendations of the Reviewed White paper on the Presidential Committee on the Restructuring and Rationalization of Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies and Commissions (Goni Aji Report); the Amal Pepple Report on the new Agencies created after the Oronsaye Report, which White Paper was produced by the Ebele Okeke Committee; Report on the Presidential Implementation Committee PIC of the White Paper on the Commission of Inquiry into the Alienation of Federal Government Landed Property;

Others were the Report of the Presidential Steering Committee [formerly Presidential Task Force PTF] on COVID-19; Implementation Committee on Special Detainees linked to Boko Haram Insurgency; Report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry for the Investigation of Mr. Ibrahim Magu, the Acting Chairman of the EFCC; Committee on Imminent takeover of Federal Government Land and landed properties by some State Governments; Draft White Paper on the Judicial Commission of Inquiry for the Investigation of Mr. Ibrahim Magu;
Report of the Presidential Transition Council, due for submission by the 30th of June, 2023; and the Transition Documents.

Mustapha added that President Muhammadu Buhari had signed the Executive Order 13, which is on Improving Performance Management, Coordination and Implementation of Presidential Priorities of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

According to him, the goal is to institutionalize a culture of accountability and transparency in service delivery, while the Executive Order 14 was on the Facilitation and Management of Presidential Transition to enable a timely and seamless transition and consequent execution of the functions of the Office of the President by a President-elect.

“A draft bill for the institutionalization of a legal framework is also part of this Handover Notes for your follow up”, he stated.

Giving Akume a mental picture of the task ahead, the outcome SGF disclosed that there are 16 agencies within the purview of the Office of the SGF.

According to him, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, is the arm of the Presidency charged with the responsibility of ensuring effective coordination and monitoring the implementation of approved Government policies and programmes.

“However, the Office administratively interfaces with the 14 Constitutional Bodies.

“Undoubtedly, the office is a challenging one, especially as it is saddled with the responsibility of being the Secretariat to the President and, by extension, advising the Government on broad policy matters across the nation’s political, social and economic milieu.

“However, it is worthy of note that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is supported in the discharge of the duties of the office by a dedicated crop of staff led by their respective Permanent Secretaries, as well as the Heads of Departments, Units and their supporting Staff.

“The OSGF comprises five Offices headed by Permanent Secretaries as well as directly responsible for the supervision of 16 Agencies domiciled in the Presidency. The major arms of OSGF are listed hereunder; General Services Office GSO; Cabinet Affairs Office CAO; Political & Economic Affairs Office PEAO; Special Services Office SSO; and Ecological Projects Office EPO.

“The OSGF also has the following statutory Units: Legal Unit; Internal Audit Unit; Press and Information Unit; Central Delivery and Coordinating Unit; and Resident Federal Auditor.

“The staff strength of the Office stands at about 1, 628 civil servants and it may interest you to note that this Office also takes care of Political Office holders including Mr. President and the Vice President.

“The main functions of OSGF are to:
Coordinate policy design and formulation by Ministries, Departments and Agencies for approval by Government;

“Serve as the Secretariat to the Council of State, the Federal Executive Council, Security Council and other Constitutional Councils which are chaired by the President;

“Coordinate the activities of Ministries and Government Agencies as well as monitor the implementation of Government decisions, policies and programmes;

“Handle constitutional, Political and socio-economic matters as may be referred to the Presidency;

“Serve as the Chief Adviser to Mr. President and the Vice President on policy issues;

“Provide administrative support services for Administrative Tribunals, Commissions and Panels of Enquiry; Coordinate public safety matters;

“Handle issues related to the following: Affairs of former Heads of State and Presidents/Protocol Matters;
Processing of communication and documentation and conveying the directive of the President;

“Processing and granting of government approval for overseas tours, inter-governmental meetings, conferences and medical Check-up/ treatment for Public Officers, Members of the Judiciary, Chairman and Members of Statutory Commissions for approval by the President;

“Processing of appointments to the Headship of Statutory Bodies, Commissions and Agencies by the President;

“Matters relating to conditions of service of Political Office Holders; Liaison with Secretaries to State Governments; Provision of office accommodation and support services for Political Office Holders”.