Buhari Inaugurates 19-Member Transition Panel
The President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), on Wednesday in Abuja, inaugurated a 19-member Transition Committee to liaise with its Federal Government counterpart to ensure a smooth handover.
The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said that the terms of reference of the committee included developing a clear framework for liaison with the out-going administration for purposes of a smooth hand-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
He said the committee was also saddled with reviewing and making preliminary assessment of the balance sheet of government, with particular emphasis on the status of assets and liabilities, cash flow position, quantum of domestic and external debt 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, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Nigerian Communications Commission, Customs and the Federal Inland Revenue Services.
Other terms of reference of the committee include suggesting ‘quick fixes’, which would result in tangible, visible and practical measures, so that change would be seen after about 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.
Speaking at the inauguration,on Wednesday in Abuja, Buhari charged the committee to “assess the information provided to you and advise 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 cannot be undone. Our job is to learn from the mistakes of the past and attempt to avoid them.”
The members of the committee areMallam Ahmed Joda – chairman,DrDoyin Salami – vice-chairman,Mr. Boss Mustapha, Mal. Muhammad Hayatuddin, AlhajiAbubakarMalami SAN, Brig. Gen. LawalJafaru Isa, Sen. HadiSirika, Sen. AuduOgbeh, Barrister Dalong, Mrs. Bola Adesola, Mr. Wale Edun, Mrs Nike Aboderin, Dr.OgbonnayaOnu, Mr. Festus Odimegwu, Chief John Oyegun, GovernorRotimiAmaechi, Dr. Tam David-West, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and MallamAdamuAdamu – Secretary.
