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Tag: Boss Mustapha

  • FG inaugurates committee for Ekwueme’s State Burial

    FG inaugurates committee for Ekwueme’s State Burial

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, on Tuesday inaugurated the Committee that will oversee the burial arrangement of the late former Vice-President, Dr.Alex Ekwueme.

    Ekwueme had died in the United Kingdom on the 19th of November, 2017 at the age of 85

    Inaugurating the committee, Boss Mustapha eulogized Dr. Alex as a personality, who have served his fatherland meritoriously.

    The SGF assured the family members who are part of the Committee that Dr. Alex Ekwueme would be given a befitting and state burial.

    He told them that Federal Government would foot the bill and the evacuation of the body from London hospital.

    A statement by the Deputy Director (Press), Mohammed T. K. Nakorji, on behalf of the SGF listed the members of the committee to include Mr. Boss Mustapha – Chairman, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN – Member, Alhaji Lai Mohammed – Member.

    Other members are Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Senator (Dr.) Chris N. Ngige, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, Mallam Lawal Musa Daura.

    Also in the committee are Pastor Goodheart Obi Ekwueme, Prof. Osita Chukwulobelu – SSG, Anambra State, Dr. R. P. Ugo, FCIPM, FICA – Member/Secretary.

    The Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Dr. Roy Ugo will also serve as Secretary.

  • Yuletide: FG warns security agencies against traffic law violations

    Yuletide: FG warns security agencies against traffic law violations

    The Federal Government on Tuesday says it will not tolerate traffic law violations by convoy drivers, military personnel and law enforcement agents during and after the Yuletides.

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, gave the warning at a capacity building workshop in Abuja.

    The workshop was on the United Nations Road Safety Legal Instruments on Traffic Signs and Regulations.

    Mustapha said as government played its role to ensure safety of lives and property, all road users must obey traffic rules and regulations regardless of their status.

    “Let me further warn that while the Federal Road Safety Corps will continue to act in line with the rule of law, government will not tolerate any one running officials of the Corps down in the exercise of their duties.

    “Government drivers, especially those that drive us around, convoy drivers, must not disrupt flow of traffic or act in contra-distinction to traffic officers’ directives.

    “Let me also admonish the military and all law enforcement agencies to cooperate with the FRSC throughout the end-of-year operations and beyond.

    “The safety of and security of this great nation rests on your collective shoulders, hence the failure of one would be seen as failure of all.’’

    Mustapha said the federal government would continue to empower the FRSC in the discharge of its duties, especially in the area of apprehending and sanctioning recalcitrant offenders.

    The SGF, whose office supervises the FRSC, assured the international community and Nigerians of government’s commitment to road safety issues through increased investment and political will.

    The keynote speaker and Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, disagreed with the popular notion that the nation’s roads are dead traps.

    Fashola said that though bad roads contributed to road accidents, the leading cause remained speed violation resulting from bad attitude of motorists.

    “I have heard people describe our roads as death traps, but what I say to people is that my team and I, about 50 of us travelled those roads early this year.

    “We drove everyday from 8 a.m. to at least 8 p.m. One day we drove for 18 hours. We traversed 34 states, but the instructive thing is that we drove at a maximum speed of 100 km per hour, we drove at night, and we did not have an accident.

    “We were not trapped and we did not die on the dead traps. All of us will just do well to understand that there are speed limits on our highways, there are breaking distances in driving.

    “Even if the road conditions are good, if you do not observe the speed limits, you endanger yourselves.

    “I agree that bad roads contribute to accidents, but I disagree on the evidence that we have that bad roads are the cause of the accidents.’’

    Read also: FRSC arraigns 187 traffic offenders in Bayelsa

    Fashola cited the FRSC monthly road traffic statistics, which show that bad roads contribute only between 0.5 and 1 per cent of accidents in the country.

    Speed violation remains the leading cause, contributing over 55 per cent of the road traffic accidents recorded by the Corps on monthly basis across the country.

    The minister, therefore, urged FRSC to intensify its enforcement of driver’s license, speed limiter installation and other traffic rules and regulations to reduce carnage on the Nation’s highways.

    He also called for more empowerment of the FRSC through increased funding and provision of facilities like rescue helicopters to boost their post-crash operations.

    The Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, assured all stakeholders that the Corps remained committed to driving the campaign for safer roads within Nigeria and in the West African sub-region.

    “FRSC will continue to embrace support that would assist not only its personnel, but also our stakeholders from time to time.

    “It is only though continuous education and enlightenment that we all can become better professionals of honour,’’ Oyeyemi said.

    The workshop was organised by the office of the SGF in conjunction with the FRSC and the Sustainable Transport Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

    It aims at building the capacity of federal and state traffic management authorities on implementation of the United Nations road safety conventions to which Nigeria is signatory.

    FRSC personnel, federal controllers of highways, state directors of highways and traffic management agencies and development partners are participating in the two-day workshop.

    NAN

  • Osinbajo, Tinubu, governors attend Buhari’s book presentation 

    Osinbajo, Tinubu, governors attend Buhari’s book presentation 

    Eminent personalities on Thursday attended President Muhammadu Buhari’s book’s public presentation in Abuja.

    The book  ‘Making Steady, Sustainable Progress for Nigeria’s Peace and Prosperity’, was presented to the public at the old Banquet Hall of the State House.

    It was a mid-term scorecard on the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    Among those that graced the public presentation of the book, that started few minutes past 12 noon, were the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who is the keynote speaker at the occasion.

    Also at the occasion was the Chairman of the occasion and the APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.

    State governors at the event were Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Rauf Aragbesola (Osun), Jigawa, Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara).

    Other members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), other top government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and traditional rulers also attended.

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara was represented at the occasion.

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

  • SGF seeks better executive, legislative cooperation

    SGF seeks better executive, legislative cooperation

    •Mustapha visits Saraki, Dogara

    SECRETARY to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha yesterday assured Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the full cooperation of the Presidency with the National Assembly.

    Mustapha, who visited Saraki and Dogara at the National Assembly, told them that he came to extend hand of friendship and to solicit the support and cooperation of the National Assembly to ensure the smooth running of government.

    The SGF noted that the Presidency was not in competition with the National Assembly, especially when it was realised that the duties of the two arms of government are specified in the constitution.

    He said the two arms of government are joint partners in governmental enterprise and should work to complement each other.

    Saraki described the visit of the SGF as a new phase of cooperation between the Executive and the Legislature.

    He said: “Let me on behalf of my colleagues welcome you to the Senate and let me thank you for your visit.

    “I think your visit is very symbolic. It is truly a new phase of cooperation between the Executive and the Legislature and a good omen  for our democracy and for our government.”

    Dogara stated that contrary to beliefs in some quarters, the Legislature and the Executive are not rivals but partners in progress.

    He described the appointment of Mustapha as “a round peg in a round hole, or a square peg in a square hole”, and stated that the president “hit the nail on the head”.

  • SGF to Saraki: I’ve come to extend hand of friendship to Senate

    SGF to Saraki: I’ve come to extend hand of friendship to Senate

    The newly appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation ( SGF ) Boss Mustapha, on sunday assured Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, of the full cooperation of the Presidency with the National Assembly.

    Mustapha who paid a courtesy visit to Saraki in his office at the National Assembly, told the Senate President that he was in his office to extend hand of friendship and to solicit the support and cooperation of the National Assembly to ensure the smooth running of government.

    The SGF noted that the Presidency is not in competition with the National Assembly especially when it was realized that the duties of the two arms of government are specified by the constitution.

    He said that the two arms are joint partners in governmental enterprise and should work to complement each other.

    Mustapha said, “Let me start by thanking the President of the Senate and the Principal Officers of the Senate for graciously receiving me and the team of Permanent Secretaries that have accompanied me on this trip this very afternoon.

    He assured that he would work to ensure that “the National Assembly receives that cooperation because jointly if we work together, whatever has been lost in the past we can quickly redeem and recover and make progress so that by the time the first four-year mandate that we received comes to an end we can show on our scorecard that these were the promises we made.”

    Read:  Saraki, Dogara angered by Aso Rock security checks

    “We are here sir, on a courtesy call to truly thank you personally for taking out time to attend my swearing-in ceremony as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and to also convey the gratitude of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari and the entirety of the government on the able leadership that you have given the National Assembly as a whole.

    “Let me put it on record that your leadership has helped tremendously in stabilizing the polity and also given the purposeful direction that we require at the Presidency to ensure that we deliver on the promises that we made to the Nigeria people when we sought for their mandate in 2015.

    “You ran for the Senate in your constituency in Kwara State, but I remember vividly serving as the Director, Contact and Mobilization of the Campaign, that you were all over the place campaigning to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari won the election and we did win decisively.

    “So, sir, thank you so much for what you have done to ensure the APC’s victory. After your emergence as the Chairman of the National Assembly and also the President of the Senate, you have provided the kind of leadership that is required, as I said, to stabilize the polity.

    “Nigeria as a nation has been going through some storms that we inherited but because of your able leadership and your colleagues in the Senate and House of Representatives, we have stabilized this process to a large extent.

    “Going forward sir, I bring, like I said, the greetings of the Presidency because as the Secretary to the Government, my responsibility is to coordinate the implementation of government policies and to ensure that these policies are synergized in such a manner that we would be able to deliver to the people of Nigeria the good things of life which they rightly deserve.

    “In doing that, I will not be able to succeed in that task if I do not get the cooperation of the National Assembly and that is why I am here today to extend the hand of friendship and to solicit for the cooperation of the National Assembly because our constitution is very explicit when it comes to the principle of Separation of Powers.

    “The role of the National Assembly is quite distinct. You (National Assembly) legislate for the good governance of the Federation; you provide oversight and you also ensure that funds that are appropriated are used judiciously for the purposes they are meant and for the benefit of the people of Nigeria.

    “So your responsibility is so enormous in this enterprise. I will say this and I will say it quite frankly sir, we are not in competition with the National Assembly. We are not rivals with the National Assembly. We are joint partners in this enterprise.

    “If the National Assembly does not cooperate with the Presidency, I am not very sure we will be able to achieve the desired result that we want to see given the mandate that we have freely received from the people of Nigeria.

    “So, this is basically to come and assure you that in every area that you are soliciting for the cooperation of the Presidency, being the Secretary to the Government, I would ensure that the National Assembly receives that cooperation because jointly if we work together, whatever has been lost in the past we can quickly redeem and recover and make progress so that by the time the first four-year mandate that we received comes to an end we can show on our scorecard that these were the promises we made.

    “Mr. President is passionate about the three-pronged approach that he has brought to government. One, to fight for the security of the country and defeat insurgency in every part of this country. Two, to diversify the economy and thirdly, to fight corruption and ensure, in his very common parlance, if we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.

    “ So, it is on these three-pronged approach that he has said that I can tell you that none of these three-pronged approach can be achieved if we do not receive the support of the National Assembly particularly now the Senate.

    “We can’t diversify the economy because that would mean that Bills will have to come to the National Assembly which will be debated and eventually returned to him for assent.

    Read:Meet new SGF Boss Mustapha

    “We can’t fight corruption if we do not have an institutional framework which is strengthened in every ramification to ensure that corruption is dealt with because it is a big menace that has constituted a source of embarrassment to the people of this country and we can’t fight insurgency unless we put apparatuses on ground that in all ramification requires the support of the National Assembly and for that reason sir, we will continue to solicit for your support.

    “We will continue to knock on your door and I believe that with your able leadership, you will be able to convince your colleagues that at every given time, whenever we require to see your hand intervening in certain areas that will assist the government move forward we will receive that. Thank you so much sir, in spite of your very tight schedule, you have received me and the Committee of my Permanent Secretaries that have come. I wish you a successful tenure, like you have always wished me and I believe at the end of the day, we will have every cause to rejoice because Nigerians would have received, like I always say, the good things of life which they rightly deserve.”

    Saraki described the visit of the SGF as a new phase of cooperation between the Executive and the Legislature.

    He said, “Let me on behalf of my colleagues welcome you to the Senate and let me thank you for your visit..

    ‘I think your visit is very symbolic. It is truly a new phase of cooperation between the Executive and the Legislature and a good omen for our democracy and for our government.

    ‘I got the notice rather short but it was important that we meet. Your visit truly shows your intention of ensuring that you use your period as SGF to ensure that we truly work together to make Nigeria great.

    ‘You are very right and I think people like us are not surprised because we know your antecedents. You know that in the presidential system that we are running in this democracy, it is not possible for us to be able to achieve all our goals if the Executive and Legislature do not have – not just an okay relationship – a fantastic and very close relationship.

    “And what you have done this afternoon has really brought that closer and I am sure that all my colleagues are going to appreciate that on the floor tomorrow when I communicate this to them.

    “Truly, you have started on a very good note and I congratulate you. Thank you for all your kind words when you talked about some of the work we have done in the past together in bringing the government together and we will continue to work together to ensure that we deliver on our promises.

    “As you said, the constitution is very clear on what our responsibilities are. You did not write it and I did not write it, neither did any of us in the National Assembly today but we have all sworn to it and we must continue to ensure that we work with it and we work for the interest of Nigeria..

    “Let me assure you that being the first SGF that we have received here, you will definitely get our cooperation and this will definitely be a new page and we will do all our best to ensure that whatever the issues are before you, we will act to see how best we can to resolve them and work together. I thank you for coming.”

    Read Also: EFCC raises panel to grill ex-SGF Lawal, seven others

  • SGF to staff: I’m simply ‘Boss’

    SGF to staff: I’m simply ‘Boss’

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha assumed office after his inauguration yesterday telling staff in the office to call him simply Boss, his first name.

    He urged them to avoid calling “His Excellency” and by other descriptions that are common in public office.

    Mustapha a former party leader in Adamawa State and one-time governorship aspirant, received the hand over note from the acting SGF Dr Habiba Lawal.

    He promised to be just, equitable and fair to all

    He said: “I do not claim any superior knowledge or experience. I will rely on each and every one of you. I have not come to this office with any special skills but the grace of God.” he said.

    Pointing out that the SGF office had the responsibility to ensure that the government succeeded, he said his leadership would give all the necessary support to make the government meet the yearnings of the people.

    He said his style would look at the strength and weaknesses towards recovering the lost grounds.

    He hail the outgoing acting SGF for doing a wonderful job.

  • Photos News: Buhari receives new SGF Boss Mustapha

    Photos News: Buhari receives new SGF Boss Mustapha

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met with the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, at the State House.

  • Group to Buhari: Order the arrest, prosecution of Lawal, Oke

    Group to Buhari: Order the arrest, prosecution of Lawal, Oke

    The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) Monday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ask that the duo of Babachir Lawal and Oke, erstwhile Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) be arrested and prosecuted.

    The development is Followed the termination of the appointment of the indicted erstwhile Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir Lawal and his replacement with Boss Mustapha.

    In a statement jointly signed by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss. Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA also criticized President Muhammadu Buhari for failing to use the sacking of the erstwhile SGF to balance the clear lopsidedness in the composition of his kitchen cabinet dominated exclusively by Northern Hausa/Fulani Moslems and completely alienated the South East of Nigeria.

    The rights group which however said the belated sack of the duo of Lawal and Oke was a step in the right direction stated that the directive from president Buhari stopped short of ordering the immediate arrest of both former top shots of his government by all the relevant anti-graft institutions.

    HURIWA said it is however the general expectations of most Nigerians and observers the world over, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Offences Commission (ICPC) will not behave like zombies and fail to activate effective mechanisms for the immediate arrest and prosecution in the competent courts of law of the indicted top federal government political and security officials.

    Besides, the Rights group has also tasked all credible civil rights bodies to monitor closely the actions of both the EFCC and ICPC in the eventual arrest and prosecution of the duo because both men had overwhelming influences within the corridors of power.

    “Let all the credible Non-governmental bodies come together as a coalition of patriots to set up effective monitoring mechanisms to ensure that all the relevant law enforcement institutions are compelled to do the needful in this instance and not be allowed to deliberately undermine or destroy the prosecution of these two powerful former presidency officials.

    “The erstwhile SGF is alleged to be very close to the acting chairman of EFCC because the EFCC acting Chairman has been sighted in the Maitama residence of the now sacked SGF Babachir Lawa.”

    Speaking on the failure of president Buhari to respect federal character principle in the replacement of the now dismissed SGF; the Rights group said this continuous pattern of gross disrespect to the constitution is disastrous.”

    HURIWA recalled that a statement from the Presidency said the President Muhammadu Buhari has studied the report of the panel headed by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, which investigated allegations against the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir David Lawal, and the Director General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayo Oke.

  • ‘APC vindicated by Babachir’s sack’

    ‘APC vindicated by Babachir’s sack’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) said on Monday that the sack of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. Babachir Lawal has vindicated the party position.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party said while reacting g to the sack of Lawal said the President has done the needful.

    Abdullahi said: “A few days ago when the President directed the dismissal of Abdulrasheed Maina, some people say that is right but what about the suspended SGF, BD Lawal but we as a party said look, the President is the only person who has all the information. All of us can inly has one side of the story or the other.

    “But the President by the virtue of the position he occupies is the only one who has all the information and he would do what is necessary at the right time, now we have been vindicated and it shows that the President has not in anyway waiver his commitment not to tolerate corruption at any level no matter who is involve,” the APC spokesman stated.

    Related: ‘Handover Babachir, Oke to EFCC, ICPC’

    Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti Corruption, Prof Itse Sagay said the sack of the suspended SGF was long over due, while describing the appointment of Boss Mustapha as his replacement as a positive development.

    Sagay said: “I think there has been a consensus on this and that was overdue. There has been too much delay. Although I will like to put a caveat that government usually have a lot more information than the rest of us as the delay might have discretionary due to the information they had. I was patient and I definitely endorse the final decision that has been taken.

    “Boss Mustapha has a very long history of political activities and my impression on him is that, apart from being a lawyer with a very good reputation in terms of integrity, he has always been a consistent person in whatever course he pursues. So, I think that we should ok at it as a positive development.”

  • Meet new SGF Boss Mustapha

    Meet new SGF Boss Mustapha

    President Muhammadu Buhari Monday approved the appointment of Boss Mustapha as new Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF).

    The appointment of the new SGF follows the sack of Babachir Lawal who has been on suspension.

    Until his appointment as SGF, Boss Gida Mustapha was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National inland waterways Authority (NIWA).

    He is a lawyer, management consultant, politician, businessman and boardroom guru of considerable repute.

    Born in Adamawa State, Mr Mustapha attended Hong Secondary School, in Hong Adamawa state and North East College of Arts and Sciences Maiduguri Borno state, crowning it with WASC and HSC in 1976. He earned his Bachelor of Law (LL.B) from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979 and was called to bar in 1980. From 1980 to 1981, Mr Mustapha did the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) – Directorate of Legal of legal Services at the Army Headquarters and was in charge of review of Court Marshall Proceedings.

    After his National Service, he joined Sotesa Nigeria Limited, an Italian consultancy firm, as an Executive Director in charge of Administration, leaving in 1983 to join the prestigious law firm Messrs Onagoruwa & Co in Lagos.

    With his law practice fully taken off, Mustapha was appointed Principal Counsel in the firm Messrs Mustapha & Associates, His legal interests and expertise included privatization commercialization and Liberalization of Public Companies/Corporate and Government Parastatals. He was also involved in preparation of varied and miscellaneous banking documents such as Debentures, Guarantees, Mortgages, Bonds and Loan Syndications.

    One of Mr. Mustapha’s career highlights was his appointment as a member of Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the defunct Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF), serving meritoriously from 2000 to 2007. At the PTF, he was responsible for production of an up-t0-date comprehensive project and programme report, including location, coverage and whether performed, performing or abandoned production of final report of Assets and Liabilities, examination of the Administrative structure and cost effectiveness of pf Projects and Services among other duties.

    Mustapha also played key leadership roles at the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) serving as Social Secretary and Chairman at the Yola branch.

    After his stint at the PTF in 2007, Mr. Mustapha was appointed Principal Partner of the law firm, Adroit Lex. His law practice and the burning desire to serve the larger society conspired to attract him into politics, at various times, he was member Federal Republic of Nigeria Constituent Assembly (1988-1989), Chairman People’s Solidarity Party-Gongola State (1989-1990), state chairman, Social Democratic Party-Gongola State (1990-1991); he was even a gubernatorial candidate for SDP in Adamawa state in 1991.

    He was the Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria from 2010 to 2013. In 2007, he again played a prominent role, serving as the Deputy Director General of the party’s Presidential campaign Organization. His services remained in high demand after the fusing of CAN joined forces with other parties to form the All Progressive Congress (APC). He was a member of NCC and Secretary APC Presidential Campaign Organization Mobilization (2015) and member, APC Transition Committee (2015). He is also a member, APC Board of Trustees.

    In addition to the NBA, the new SGF is a member of various professional bodies including African Bar Association (ABA), Commonwealth Lawyers Association, International Bar Association (IBA) and Human Rights Institute (HRI). But Mustapha’s accomplishments go beyond politics and the Bar; he is a respected boardroom guru, having been appointed into the boards of several companies in the manufacturing financial services as well as oil and gas sectors. He is the National Vice President, Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship international Nigeria.

    While at NIWA, his address to management staff on assuming office set the tone, style and direction of his administration. He stressed teamwork and the need to focus on the Authority’s vision and mission. Married with children, Mustapha enjoys golf, lawn tennis, travelling, documentary films, charity work and meeting people.