Buhari inaugurates transition committee

The President-elect, Muhammadu   Buhari, on Wednesday inaugurated a 19-member transition committee to work with another constituted by the outgoing Goodluck Jonathan government for a smooth handover of power.

He   urged the Ahmed Joda-led transition committee, which has two weeks to complete its assignment,   not to engage in   fault-finding. Continue..

Members of the committee include John Odigie-Oyegun,   Doyin Salami, Adamu Adamu,Wale Edun,   Bola Adesola,   Festus Odimegwu,     Nike Aboderin,     Rotimi Amaechi, Audu Ogbeh, Bode Mustapha,   Hadi Sirika,   Ogbonaya Onu, Abubakar Malami   and Lawal   Isa.

Others are Mohammed Hayatudeen, Solomon Dalong, Tam David-West and Lai Mohammed.

While expressing gratitude to the committee members   for accepting to serve at a very short notice, Buhari explained that changing from one government to another always involved complicated operational challenges.

According to him, his government needs to know where the previous government stopped so that it can know where to continue.

Buhari told the committee members, “This assignment is onerous though it is well within your ability to accomplish, you are enquired to assess the information provided to you and advise me on its quality and accuracy.”

He added, “It is a simple matter but you must have the right information if you are to shape appropriate policy decisions. Needless to repeat; that your committee and our government are not on a witch-hunt or engage 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 in an attempt to avoid similar errors.

“The two weeks given to you to complete your assignment, are short but because of the postponement of the election   from February 14 to March 28, the transition period has been truncated, we are obliged therefore to fast-track steps to May 29.”

The President-elect also told the committee to ensure that it did not overlook “essentials.”

Buhari described Joda as one of the few surviving links of the First Republic civil service   and the present.

Joda expressed appreciation to Buhari for considering him and his team members   worthy to help prepare the ground for the incoming administration to take off smoothly on May 29, 2015.

He said, “We as your transition committee members are determined to do the best we can within the time that is allowed to accomplish your wishes and to make it possible for you to achieve your vision for our country.”

The terms of reference of the committee are:

• develop a clear framework for liaison with the outgoing administration for purposes of a smooth handover/takeover and to receive handover documents from MDAs and itemise the most important or most urgent issues confronting the incoming government;
• review   government’s outstanding contractual obligations and its ability to meet such obligations and the status of implementation of capital projects;
• undertake a preliminary assessment of the security challenges facing the country and the counter-insurgency measures taken by the outgoing government;
• take a look at the counter policy measures being implemented in the Niger Delta to deal with unrest and major economic crimes in the area;
• review   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;
• provide a brief overview of the Central Bank of Nigeria , the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the Nigerian Communications Commission , the Nigeria Customs Service and the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
• 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 will be helpful to the transition and take-off of the new administration.