Buhari begins handover process, appoints transition committee for May 29 succession

President Muhammadu Buhari has commenced the process of handover to his successor. The resident, accordingly, approved the appointment of a Presidential Transition Council to coordinate the 2023 transition programme to the new administration on May 29.

The Director of Information for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey, in a statement on Thursday, disclosed that President Buhari further signed the Executive Order No. 14 of 2023 on the Facilitation and Management of Presidential Transitions.

According to the statement, “the Transition Council will be inaugurated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Tuesday 14th February, 2023 at 12 noon at the Conference Hall of the SGF.”

The Presidential Executive Order No. 14 of 2023 was cited to have made provisions for “institutionalization of a legal framework that would enable a seamless transition of power from one Presidential Administration to another which is part of President Buhari’s legacy”.

Members of the Committee were identified to include:

1. Secretary to the Government of the Federation – Chairman
2. Head of the Civil Service of the Federation

iii. Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice

1. Permanent Secretaries from the following Ministries and Offices:
2. Defence
3. Interior
4. Finance, Budget and National Planning
5. Foreign Affairs
6. Information and Culture
7. Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)
8. Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs
9. Cabinet Affairs Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF)
10. General Services Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF)
11. Economic and Political Affairs Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF)
12. State House
13. National Security Adviser
14. Chief of Defence Staff

vii. Inspector-General of Police

viii. Director General, National Intelligence Agency

1. Director General, State Security Services
2. Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria; and
3. Two representatives, to be nominated by the President-elect.