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Tag: Boss Mustapha

  • I’m least qualified for SGF, says Boss Mustapha

    THE Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, yesterday said he was the least qualified person to head the office of the SGF.

    He also described his re-appointment as a call for rededication and recommitment to the course of Nigerian nationhood.

    Mustapha spoke in Abuja, the nation’s capital, while briefing workers in his office and journalists on his official resumption to office after his reappointment by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The President, last Friday, re-appointed Mustapha as SGF and Abba Kyari as his Chief of Staff (COS).

    Apart from giving glory to God, Mustapha also thanked the President for the confidence reposed in him to continue serving the nation in that capacity.

    He said: “For me, this is a very humbling experience and it caused me to think and reflect deeply in the last two days as to what qualifies me to come to this office.

    Read also: My re-appointment call to greater service -SGF

    “I looked around, I said well, probably I am the least qualified. I believe truly that the hand of God is upon everything that happens in a man’s life.

    “Indeed, I express my gratitude to God Almighty first and to Mr President for reposing this level of confidence in me,” he said.

    The re-appointment, the SGF said, is an honour and a task placed on him to move forward and reflect on issues affecting Nigeria in order to achieve good governance.

    Mustapha said: “It is a call for a rededication, recommitment to the course of the Nigerian nationhood, and I will bring to bear everything that I need to do.

    “I will work harder than I worked in the last one and a half years that I served in this office, be more committed and be more zealous for the things of Nigeria.

    “And to help Mr President to achieve his desire of transforming this country to take it to the Next Level,” he said.

    He advised his staff to live up to expectation, saying they are expected to exhibit the spirit of excellence in whatever they do to provide hope for the government.

    The Permanent Secretary in the Ecological Department, Dr Habiba Lawal, and the Permanent Secretary for Special Services at the OSGF, Dr Amina Shamaki, spoke on behalf of the workers.

    They pledged their maximum cooperation with Mustapha.

  • APC chieftain lauds Buhari for reappointing Boss, Kyari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has been commended for reappointing the duo of Mr. Boss Mustapha and Abba Kyari as Secretary to the Federal Government and Chief of Staff respectively.

    Giving the commendation in a statement in Warri on Monday, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South, Hon. Tare Amatare, said the duo deserved the reappointment.

    According to Amatare, the duo had over the period they served in the same positions in the last administration, proven to be good administrators, who understood the jobs they were assigned to do and did them with conscience and devotion.

    Read Also: APC has unfinished business, says Osoba

    “Boss Mustapha and Abba Kyari are pan-Nigerianists, who always believe and place the interest of Nigeria first in the course of discharging their duties to their fatherland and above all great patriots who believe in unity, peace and progress of Nigeria.

    “While I commend President Buhari for deeming it fit reassigning them on these national assignments, I express the confidence that both men will always make Nigerians proud while discharging their duties.

    “I wish them well in the course of discharging their duties and urge all Nigerians to continue to give both men and President Buhari the needed support in order to move Nigeria to next the level”, he said.

     

  • Mustapha: I take my re-appointment as call to greater service

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has said his reappointment is a call for him to render greater service to the nation.

    The SGF said he would do the job with seriousness.

    “I’m overwhelmed by the level of confidence reposed in me by the President and the nation to handle the affairs of state from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF),” Mustapha said while addressing reporters yesterday at the Yola International Airport, Jimeta, Adamawa State.

    The SGF, who was returning to Abuja after a weekend visit to Adamawa State, said he found his reappointment thrilling and challenging.

    “In the last couple of days, I have been weighed down by the enormity of the responsibility of my office and the trust placed on me,” he said.

    Mustapha promised to take his responsibilities seriously because the destinies of Nigerians hang in the balance, subjected to his actions or inactions.

    He said: “I must do everything to honour God and justify the trust reposed in me by Mr President.”

    Mustapha urged Nigerians to believe in President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise to take 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.

    Read Also: Breaking: Buhari re-appoints Boss Mustapha, Abba Kyari as SGF, COS

    The SGF assured the nation that the promise was significant, adding that the President remained committed to it.

    “Talking about taking 100 million people out of poverty in the next 10 years is the boldest statement that has ever been made, considering the situation in which we are. The President has already set the agenda going,” he said.

    Also, Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for reappointing Mustapha as the SGF.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser (SA) on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, the governor said: “I hereby congratulate Mr. Boss Mustapha on his reappointment as the SGF.

    “This particular appointment did not come to me as a surprise as the SGF carried out the vast responsibilities of his office efficiently with respect and dignity deserving of such a high office.

    “I also commend the President for this appointment, which shows the recognition of the exemplary efforts of the SGF.

    “I wish Boss Mustapha success in this particular position and in his future dealings.”

  • Why Buhari reappointed Mustapha, Kyari, 11 others

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari shocked lobbyists on Friday by reappointing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha and his Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari.

    It was learnt that the President returned the two leaders to his inner team in order to ensure continuity.

    Buhari was also said to have used the appointments to demonstrate that he cannot be stampeded by anybody or group.

    The President was said to be angered by isolated protests against Kyari and his nephew, Mamman Daura over cabinet appointments.

    In two separate statements by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari had approved the reappointment of Mustapha, Kyari and 11 personal aides.

    The 11 aides are Mohammed Sarki Abba (Senior Special Assistant to the President (Household and Social Events); Ya’u Shehu Darazo (Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Duties); Dr. Suhayb Sanusi Rafindadi (Personal Physician to the President); Amb. Lawal A. Kazaure (State Chief of Protocol); Sabiu Yusuf – Special Assistant (Office of the President); Saley Yuguda – Special Assistant (House Keeping).

    Others are Ahmed Muhammed Mayo-Special Assistant (Finance & Administration); Mohammed Hamisu Sani – Special Assistant (Special Duties); Friday Bethel – Personal Assistant (General Duties); Sunday Aghaeze – Personal Assistant (State Photographer); and Bayo Omoboriowo – Personal Assistant (Presidential Photographer).

    Investigation revealed that there had been issues within the kitchen cabinet of the President and outside on the choice of aides and cabinet members.

    Although the President kept mum on his direction, he was overwhelmed and bemused by agitations over his personal aides and ministerial nominees.

    A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “In all honesty, the reappointment of Mustapha, Kyari and all other aides was informed by the need for continuity. He felt it is not easy having a new Chief of Staff managing his schedule.

    “He is appreciative of their loyalty, especially when he had medical challenges. Despite insinuations, he decided to sustain the bond between him and his aides.

    “There was no single leak on his health status until the President himself opened up after recovery.

    “A few names were recommended to replace Kyari but the President weighed all options and it was difficult to understand why he should drop Kyari whose sense of duty and commitment he appreciates.

    Read Also: Buhari decries attacks in Katsina

    “Security reports on some of these recommended nominees were unfavourable. One of the nominees was actually linked with slush funds traced to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha and his family.”

    Findings however revealed that sponsored demonstrations against Kyari and his nephew actually made Buhari to do what a source described as “damning the consequences.”

    Another source added: “The President has shown that he cannot be stampeded by anybody or group. He was shocked by the isolated protests against Kyari and his nephew, Mallam Mamman Daura, in Abuja and Kaduna.

    “Security reports indicated that some desperate office seekers were behind the protests. The President felt the protests were personalised and he was not ready to condone the desperation.

    “From the feelers at hand, the protests actually triggered the reappointment of Kyari. The President decided to be his own man rather than being intimidated by outside forces.

    “Buhari has a peculiar fixation as a leader with a military background. He detests being forced or intimidated to take a decision on any issue or appointment.

    “I think those who bankrolled the protests got it wrong because Buhari was angry with their desperation. Heckling at Daura’s residence in Kaduna by the protesters weighed heavily in favour of Kyari.

    “As at the time Buhari went to Saudi Arabia, a former Minister was among the leading favourites to succeed Kyari.

    “While in Saudi Arabia, a respected influential person in the power corridors even whispered to the ex-minister not to decline being the Chief of Staff if offered by the President.

    “We do not know whether or not the ex-minister refused to accept to be the Chief of Staff and Buhari took advantage to retain Kyari.”

    But a source admitted that Daura and powerful kitchen cabinet members (the Cabal) played a major role in the retention of Kyari and the 11 aides.

    The government source said: “Those who wanted drastic changes in Buhari’s strategic aides actually wanted to dismantle the kitchen cabinet of the President, whose arrowhead is Daura. All over the world, it is always difficult to tamper with any power cabal.

    “The truth is that the President has absolute faith in the judgment of his nephew because when it was rough for him, only Daura was the last man standing. It was Daura who recommended Kyari for the job. To drop the Chief of Staff will be a slight on Daura.

    “The retention of Kyari has deepened the bond between the President and Daura.”

    Asked what will change, the source added: “I think the President will pay more interest to the conduct and activities of these aides around him.”

  • Gbajabiamila seeks return to January-December budget cycle

    The  Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila on Monday urged the Presidency to ensure the early submission of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to allow for early passage of budget 2020.

    Gbajabiamila who spoke during a courtesy visit by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr. Boss Mustapha and his team at the National Assembly, said its will help the country return to the January to December budget cycle.

    He said: “Again, part of the reforms which we want to achieve is: I will want a situation where before we go on long break in the next week, maybe three weeks, I would want a situation where the MTEF will be submitted to this House so that we can pass it before going.

    “And then, when we come back in September, may be by the end of September, the budget is before us. Because by finance laws, the budget is based in the MTEF. The MTEF needs to be submitted. At the end if the day, we don’t want the budget to be brought in December.

    “So, this is the timetable that we have set.  One, the MTEF to be submitted. Two, we work on it and go on our long break and then come back. At the end of September,   present the budget to us. And what does that do? It leaves us with three months to pass the budget. It brings us back to that circle of January to December. And by January 1, we pass the budget as envisaged in the constitution.

    “We want you to help us with this process. We want to streamline the budget process because the input of the members cannot be negotiated. So, if that input can come before the presentation of the budget, fine. So that when the budget comes, we just need little things here and there but not to rewrite a whole budget because we have not been carried along from onset. I think those are the issues. We want good collaboration.”

    Read Also: Just in: Gbajabiamila sets up committee to review House Rules

    He demanded better working conditions in the National Assembly.

    He said the parliament will be coming to the executive “with a shopping list which will make our work easier.

    “The list will include things like library, world class, international standard library. we will be needing your intervention in that regard. We will need to make the House IT compliant.

    “But I am glad to announce that even by tomorrow as we resume sitting, one of our reforms will already be in place. The chambers is more or less 80 per cent IT compliant. We have a new set of equipment that allow easy face recognition and electronic registration or internet server as they say. This was done on our own in the last two to three weeks because they were promises we made and we must fulfill.

     

     

  • SGF unveils Democracy Day Exhibition

    Mr Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federal, on Friday unveiled the 2019 National Democracy Day Exhibition with a call on Nigerians to reawaken their consciousness on the country’s rich heritage.

    Mustapha, who made the call in Abuja during the unveiling of the exhibition with theme, “Unbroken Democracy”, urged Nigerians to appreciate the country’s rich human, capital and natural endowment.

    He called for collective efforts to exploit the resources with a view to moving the country on the path of prosperity, unity and progress.

    The SGF said that the unveiling of the exhibition was part of the activities lined up for the 2019 National Democracy Day celebration to showcase the political and cultural history of Nigeria.

    “The exhibition with the theme, unbroken democracy takes us back to memory lane on our political struggles and eventual freedom from the British Colonial masters.

    “I believe that this will reawaken the minds and consciousness of Nigerians to educate our young ones about the founding fathers of our great nation.

    “This indeed is timely as the 2019 celebration coincides with the 20thanniversary of Nigeria’s uninterrupted democracy since 1999.

    Read Also: June 12: SGF expresses satisfaction with level of preparedness

    “It is also to consolidate on achievements recorded in strengthening and deepening our democratic experience since June  12, 1993.

    ”It is my sincere hope that this exhibition will bring to remembrance the birth of our political history and also serve as a uniting force for all Nigerians,” he said.

    In his remark, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the immediate past Minister of Information and Culture, said the exhibition was in arts, pictures and immersive digital environment.

    “This exhibition is aimed at strengthening and deepening understanding of our democracy as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of “Unbroken Democracy” of civilian administration.

    “ It is designed to provide insight into our political history with the aim of educating especially our youths and reawaken their consciousness about our political history.

    “It is my hope that this exhibition will give us an opportunity to appreciate the role of our nationalists, activists and the founding fathers of our democracy,” he said.

    NAN

  • Group to critics: SGF can’t be distracted from state matters

    A group in Adamawa State has said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, is currently busy with state matters and should not be distracted, but that he is within his rights to aspire to any position in the land come 2023 if he pleases.

    The position of the pro-SGF group was a response to a claim by some Adamawa politicians that Boss Mustapha was obsessed with political ambition towards 2023, a claim against which the counter-set of prominent Adamawa politicians speaking for Boss Mustapha, argued that the SGF was currently too occupied with important state issues, including functioning as the Chairman of the Presidential Inauguration Committee, and cannot indulge personal political ambitions.

    The pioneer Northeast National Vice Chairman of the APC, Umar Duhu, who anchored the SGF defense group, said, “Mustapha’s focus at this material time is to coordinate the winding up of President Muhammadu Buhari’s first term and to set the tone for the second term.

    “The people accusing Boss Mustapha of plans to forge a joint presidential ticket in 2023 should know they are only jumping the gun for now, and are wasting their time given that he is too busy with stabilizing national affairs.”

    Read Also: Ex-SGF Lawal, brother, others get N50m bail

    Umar Duhu added however that Mustapha was qualified and free to seek the highest office in the land as his critics had suggested, reiterating to journalists in Yola that the SGF stood tall among northern politicians to run or deputise for anybody in line with APC’s power-shift arrangement.

    Taking a swipe at the self-styled ‘Adamawa APC bigwigs’ which questioned Boss Mustapha’s perceived ambition, Umar Duhu said the group was trying to create disharmony within the APC fold, but stressed that it was dangerous for someone to think that some other people were not entitled to certain positions.

    He said Boss Mustapha was a politician of reckon with a long history as he was presented to run along with late M.K.O Abiola by the Babagana Kingibe group in 1993.

    “Mustapha’s intimidating credentials are there. 30 years ago, the Kingibe group within the Social Democratic Party (SDP) actually presented him initially to Abiola for consideration as presidential running mate.

    It is therefore ridiculous for some spent force politicians to think they can cow such a formidable democratic icon into silence,” he asserted.

  • Breaking: Buhari meets Imams, Islamic scholars in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met with Imams and Senior Islamic scholars from all the states of the Federation at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The closed doors meeting started around 12.03pm when President Buhari arrived at the venue.

    Top government officials in attendance included Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazzau.

    Read Also: Buhari, CAN leaders meet in Aso Rock

    Also at the meeting were the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello, Water Resources Minister, Suleiman Adamu.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Abia APC backs zoning of Senate Presidency to Southeast

    The Abia State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has joined other Abians and well-meaning Nigerians to call on the National leadership of the party to ensure that the position of Senate President in the 9th National Assembly was ceded to the Southeast.

    Abia APC speaking through the Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Comrade Benedict Godson on Thursday in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state posited that it will be both politically and morally correct to do so.

    According to Godson, the call was important going to the recent political development in the country where both the newly elected and already serving senators from different parts of the country have started scheming for a position, the APC publicity secretary said would ordinarily be zoned to the southeast to balance power sharing among the major ethnic groups in the country.

    Those touted to be key contenders of senate Presidency include former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor-Kalu (Southeast), Senator Ahmad Lawan from Yobe (Northeast), former Gombe State governor, Danjuma Goje (Northeast), Senator Ali Ndume from Borno (Northeast )and Senator Adamu Abdullahi from Nasarawa State (North-central).

    Godson said that the structural makeup of the current government from executive, legislative and judiciary, shows that it will be the most infallible and plain sailing decision for the party to cede the senate president to South East.

    “If you can recall, Dr. Chris Ngige because of his defeat could not be made Senate President because he couldn’t come back to the national assembly and there was no way that they could have given it to Ekweremadu who is from another party. That gave way for the manipulation that brought Bukola Saraki in as the senate President.

    “For us here, this should not be a difficult decision at all. It is a decision that will show inclusiveness in all ramifications. The structure of the current government from executive, legislative and judiciary calls for a space for the Southeast to accommodate and integrated.

    “Our able leader, President Muhammadu Buhari is from Northwest, Vice President; Prof Yemi Osinbajo from Southwest, Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha and the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari are both from Northeast.

    “Although the current senate president and Speaker of the House of Representatives are no longer our members, but both are from North Central and Northeast respectively. And the South-South until recently had the number one position in the judiciary (CJN). Even the National Chairman of our party is from the South-South as well.

    “This goes to show that the Southeast is the only geo-political zone which has no ranking government official in the hierarchy of power within the APC led government. So, giving us this one is a no brainer I must say it unequivocally.

    READ ALSO: Abia APC in final push for Saturday polls

    “Agreed, in 2015 we didn’t do much in terms of sending people from APC to the National Assembly, but the story is different today as we already have an elected Senator and members of House of Representatives. Even in the presidential election, we showed serious commitment and dedication to our party candidate who won convincingly,” he said.

    Godson who said that he was sure that Kalu was going to deliver creditably if chosen as the Senate President going by his level of experience as a businessman, governor and former House of Representatives member noted that it was imperative that the National Working Committee of APC, all elected Senators from both Southeast and other zones among other stakeholders of the party joined hands to support Kalu to clinch the senate apex position for justice and equity within the party and the nation at large.

    “Those of us from Abia are strongly behind our leader Senator Orji Uzor-Kalu and believe he should be considered for the post because he is capable and has collected his certificate of return from INEC and as such now a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from the Southeast.

    “People may say he’s a greenhorn in the senate, but we must put records straight, because he is not new in the National Assembly.

    “He was in the House of Representatives in 1991. He was deputy chairman, House Committee on Finance and Immigration, because his party, the National Republican Convention (NRC) was in minority then. He’s not a greenhorn at all.”

    Speaking further, Godson said, “Let no one get this call twisted in anyway, our call and demand for this position is not in any way trying to say that the APC led Federal Government has not done well in the Southeast.

    “That’s not what we are saying. The essence of this explanation is to make sure that people don’t twist it into that. In fact, our people are aware that the president Buhari led administration has executed more people oriented projects in the Southeast than previous administrations.

    “So, we must make this clear before mischief-makers will turn our simple call for rightful accommodation and integration into the progressive APC government to mean an agitation of dissatisfaction with the APC led administration.

    “We appreciate the Federal Government and all its efforts in the Southeast, but we are saying that it will be fair, politically and morally correct for our zone to be given the number one principal position in the Senate because we deserve it as it will make our party stronger and more balanced in national outlook.”

  • Adamawa elders commend appointment of SGF to head Buhari’s inauguration

    A group of elder statesmen in Adamawa State has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, as Chairman of the Presidential Inauguration Committee for the May 29, 2019 presidential inauguration.

    The spokesman of the group and a former acting General Manager of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Mr Titus Kabu Lassa, who spoke to newsmen in Yola, said the gesture extended to Boss Mustapha by Mr President is a clear indication of his confidence in the capability of the SGF.

    Kabu said, “For a man who was once called upon to round up the PTF project started by Buhari and given his political pedigree, it shows that he is up to the task.”

    Read Also: Bauchi Governor briefs Buhari on inconclusive election

    The group of Adamawa elders enjoined Buhari to sustain the culture of working with credible people in government, as it is the surest way of maintaining efficient policy implementation and good service delivery to the people.

    The SGF, Boss Mustapha, was last Wednesday appointed to head the 2019 inauguration committee to plan the swearing-in of President Muhammadu Buhari for his second term.

    Other members of the interministerial Presidential Inauguration Committee include the ministers of Information and Culture, Interior, Foreign Affairs, FCT, and the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, among others.