The President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday in Abuja inaugurated a 19-member transition committee to liaise with its Federal Government counterpart to ensure a smooth transition.
According to a statement issued in Abuja by the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Committee (APC),
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the terms of reference of the committee include, to develop 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 (MDAs) and itemise the most important or most urgent issues confronting the incoming government
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 out-standing contractual obligations and its ability to meet such obligations and the status of implementation of capital projects.
It will also 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 the major economic crimes in the area, particularly, 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 Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), NCC, Customs and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
The committee is also 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 make any other observations which in view of the committee would be helpful to the transition and takeoff of the new administration. It has two weeks to conclude its work
Speaking at the inauguration, the president-elect charged the committee to ‘assess the information provided to it and advise him 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 faultfinding. 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.’’
General Buhari hailed the calibre of the committee’s membership, saying they represented some of the best Nigeria could 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 included farming, industry and 21st Century IT and one of Nigerian’s precious assets.
The transition committee members include Malam Ahmed Joda (Chairman), Dr. Doyin Salami (Vice Chairman), Mr. Boss Mustapha, Malam Muhammad Hayatuddin, Alhaji Abubakar Malami (SAN), Brig. General Lawal Jafaru Isa and Senator Hadi Sirik.
Others are Senator Audu Ogbeh, Barrister Dalong, Mrs Bola Adesola, Mr. Wale Edun, Mrs Nike Aboderin, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Mr. Festus Odimegwu, Chief John Oyegun, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Prof. Tam David West and Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while Malam Adamu Adamu is to serve as Secretary.
