To start with, there is a near”consensus” among “experts” that the “structure” of our “federation” needed much to be desired. This brings us to the much talked about “ambiguous” term called “restructuring”. As a student of power I strongly believe that our “federation” is largely “unitary” in practice. There is the issue of high “cost” of governance due to some unnecessary structure. To make the “structure” of our federation “works” effectively and efficiently for the greater majority of Nigerians it requires both “Executive” and “Legislative” “inputs”. However, there are “several” aspects of the “structure” of our federation that need to be “restructured” which does not require legislative backup, but only executive “zeal”.
It is on this note that, the President- Elect must get it “right” in his “appointment” of the SGF because the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (OSGF) is the “Engine Room” of the “Executive arms” of Government. Going by the SGF callings “He” or “She” will be the one to lead “some” aspects of “restructuring” in our federation which does not “require” legislative backup.
In my thought, apart from the “deficit” of “patriotic” leadership in our “dear” country, the “structure” of our “federation” also constitutes a great deal of “obstacle” to our socio-economic development as a country and as a people.We must make our federation works for the “greater” majority of Nigerians not the “tiny” minority that its currently works for.
Through some campaign “utterances” of the President-elect I got to the conclusion that he is among the Nigerians who believe that some “structure” of our federation need some “restructuring”. It is, therefore, on this note that I urge him to “appointment” a believer of “restructuring” who is competent, energetic, result- oriented, Knowledgeable, experienced, and courageous as his SGF.
The followings are some of the responsibilities of the SGF:
(1) Coordinating policy design and formulation by Ministries, Departments and Agencies for approval by Government;
(2) Serving as Secretary to the Council of State, the Federal Executive Council and other Constitutional Councils, which are chaired by the President;(3) Coordinating the activities of Ministries and Government Agencies on the implementation of Government decisions, policies and programmes;(4) Dealing with constitutional, political and socio-economic matters as may be referred to the Presidency;(5) Administrative Tribunals, Commissions and Panels of Enquiry;(6) Coordinating national security and public safety matters;
(7) National Honours Award;(8) Prerogative of Mercy;
(9) Protocol Matters;(10) Channeling of papers and directives of the President;(11) Processing and granting Government approval for Overseas Tours, Intergovernmental Meetings/Conferences, medical check-up/treatment by Public Officers;(12) Processing requests for Overseas Duty Tours/Conferences including medical check-up/treatment abroad for members of the Judiciary, Chairmen and Members of Statutory Commissions/Bodies for approval by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;(13) Coordinating the appointments to Headship of Statutory Bodies, Commissions and Agencies by the President;(14) Dealing with matters relating to conditions of service of political office holders;(15) Intergovernmental Affairs and relations with State and Local Governments;(16) Liaison with Secretaries to State Governments;
(17) Allocation of Office accommodation to Political Office Holders.
However, in carrying out the said responsibilities, the OSGF is structured into the following offices, each headed by a Permanent Secretary. There are six such offices:
(1) Cabinet Secretariat; (2)General Services Office; (3) Political Affairs Office;(4) Economic Affairs Office; (5) Special Services Office; and
(6) Special Duties Office.
Then there are the supervisory roles that have also been lumped together in that office and the list is legion.The following Parastatals/Agencies are supervised by the OSGF: (i) Ecological Fund; (ii) National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP); (iii) National Economic Intelligence Committee; (iv) Presidential Advisory Council; (v) Code of Conduct Tribunal; (vi) Code of Conduct Bureau; (vii) National Hospital; (viii) Federal Road Safety Commission; (ix) National Commission for Refugees; (x) Nigerian National Volunteer Service (NNVS); (xi) Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); (xii) South-South Health Care Programme; (xiii) National Agency for Control of AIDS (NACA); (xiv) National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC); (xv) Ministry of Special Duties; (xvi) Secretariat of the Presidential Council (PAC); (xvii) Secretariat of the Presidential Committee on National Identification Systems, (xviii)Consumer Credit and Outsourcing initiative; (xix) Galaxy backbone; (xx)Christian Pilgrims Commission; and (xxi) National Hajj Commission.
In addition, by August 2019, President Buhari created the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
May God bless Nigeria!
