Presidency begins search for new SGF
- The presidency is shopping for the replacement of the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engineer Babachir Lawal
- This is coming five days after the SGF's suspension
- Two ministers, two senators, and four others are top on the list of those being considered
A report by The Nation indicates that the presidency is already shopping for the replacement of the suspended SGF, Engineer Babachir Lawal barely five days after his suspension.
According to the report, two ministers, two senators, and four others are top on the list of those being considered.
The report further stated that the presidency may have foreclosed the return of Lawal and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayo Oke, to their offices.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, April 19, suspended Lawal and Oke, even as he ordered an investigation into the allegations of violations of law and due process made against them.
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Legit.ng gathered that the new SGF might assume more roles, as it was during the tenure of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The president is reportedly considering a reduction of the workload of his Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, by devolving more schedules to the new SGF.
Three geopolitical zones are said to be battling to produce the next SGF. The zones are North-East (seeking the retention of the office), the North-Central and the South-East.
But the real battle is said to be between the North-East and the North-Central.
Those being recommended from the North-Central are minister of agriculture, Audu Ogbe (based on performance in office); serving Senators George Akume and Barnabas Gemade.
From the North-East are a yet to be named minister, a former ambassador to Botswana, Hajiya Fatima Balla-Abubakar and a former minister of labour and productivity, Senator Joel Ikenya.
A source said: “The battle for SGF Lawal’s job is also assuming a religious dimension, with Christians demanding the replacement of the suspended occupant with another Christian.
“But the president pays more attention to merit and capacity than religious or ethnic colouration.”
“Buhari might strengthen the office of the SGF in order to reduce the heavy workload on the Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari who is doing a lot now. There are some schedules which ordinarily ought not to be handled by the Chief of Staff but since such matters demand trust, the president saddles him with them.”
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Meanwhile, the senior special assistant to President Buhari on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu has revealed that more corrupt officials in the current administration would soon be sacked by the president.
Mallam Shehu made the revelation in an exclusive interview with the Daily Trust in Abuja while speaking on the circumstances that led to the suspension of Lawal and Oke.
Source: Legit.ng
