Tag: George Akume

• SGF office goes live on 1-Gov Cloud ECMS

The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) has formally begun the transition to a fully digitised records and administrative system.

It assured the nation that the move would strengthen digital governance, efficiency and transparency across its operations.

Speaking at the flag-off of the 1-Government (1 Gov) Cloud Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) in Abuja, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, said the initiative underscored the office’s commitment to modernising governance processes in line with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSIP 2025).

In a statement yesterday in Abuja by the Director of Information and Public Relations in the OSGF, Segun Imohiosen, Senator Akume described the ECMS as a critical tool for transforming how the OSGF manages official records, workflows and inter-ministerial communications.

He said the system would provide a secure and integrated platform that improves timeliness, accuracy and decision-making.

According to him, the OSGF’s role is to be the coordinating hub of government policies and programmes, made digital efficiency imperative.

Read Also: Akume: Inter-faith trust key to national cohesion, development

“With the ECMS, our processes will be faster, more reliable and better aligned with the demands of contemporary public administration,” he said.

Akume noted that he full implementation of digitisation would enhance accountability and transparency in government business.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who officially flagged off the deployment, hailed the SGF and his management team for embracing the enterprise content management platform.

She said the adoption of the ECMS marked a significant step in digitising work processes and strengthening service delivery across the federal civil service.

Mrs. Walson-Jack noted that the OSGF’s responsibility for coordinating Federal Executive Council (FEC) business and maintaining constant engagement with the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) meant that traditional paper-based processes were no longer adequate.

According to her, the speed and accuracy required for effective governance can only be achieved through digital systems.

The HoCSF stressed that the introduction of the ECMS would ensure that government records are secure, easy to track and readily accessible when needed, thereby supporting smoother workflows and better-informed decisions.

She added that deploying the system on the One Gov Cloud platform would transform how work is done, enable electronic approvals, automate routine processes and significantly improve overall performance in the federal civil service.

The launch of the 1-Gov Cloud ECMS is expected to accelerate Nigeria’s public service digital transformation agenda, positioning the OSGF as a model for efficient, transparent and technology-driven governance.

The Federal Government has restated its unwavering commitment to tackling insecurity, urging regional and international partners to deepen collaboration in the ongoing fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, made the appeal on Thursday when he received a high-powered delegation of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by its President, Archbishop Prof. Leonard Bature Kawas, in his office in Abuja.

According to a statement issued by Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the SGF, Segun Imohiosen, Akume said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration remains fully committed to securing the lives and property of Nigerians, noting that security institutions are being strengthened while partnerships are being expanded both within and outside the country.

“But the government is seriously committed to eradicating insecurity… We need support from our allies to be able to fight terrorists in the land,” the SGF said, calling for intensified international collaboration to contain emerging threats.

He welcomed the vote of confidence passed on the administration by the CBCN, describing it as further validation of the President’s efforts to stabilise the nation and address longstanding security challenges.

Senator Akume added that the Federal Government has continued to deepen engagements with traditional rulers, business leaders, the private sector, political actors, and religious bodies to build “a strong and virile Nigeria for all.”

Read Also: Fed govt reaffirms resolve to defeat insecurity, seeks stronger global support

He urged religious organisations to sustain prayers for peace, unity, and national prosperity.

Earlier, Archbishop Kawas reaffirmed the Conference’s commitment to supporting the Tinubu administration’s quest to restore security nationwide.

He said the bishops would continue to pray for peace and unity, while backing ongoing government efforts to protect citizens and strengthen social cohesion.

The SGF praised the delegation for its solidarity and assured them of the government’s determination to overcome insecurity and reposition Nigeria on the path of lasting stability.

• SGF unveils financing blueprint at NAPE Conference

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume has laid out what industry leaders are already calling one of the Tinubu administration’s most detailed financing roadmaps towards mobilising billions of dollars for Nigeria’s energy future.

Speaking before an elite gathering of geoscientists, financiers, and oil and gas executives at the annual conference of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) at Eko Hotels, Lagos, Akume declared that Nigeria stands “at a historic intersection where hydrocarbon dependence and global climate realities now confront one another.”

With a theme centred on “Financing the Future of Nigeria’s Energy Sector: Navigating Energy Transition and Driving Sustainable Development,” the SGF’s keynote address which was delivered by his Special Adviser (Technical Operations), Prof Babatunde Bolaji Benard, captured both the anxiety and opportunity reshaping Nigeria’s energy industry – an industry that remains the country’s fiscal backbone but is increasingly under global pressure to evolve.

Emphasizing a dual mandate of growing Nigeria’s hydrocarbon value while funding energy transition, Senator Akume reminded the audience that over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings still come from the oil and gas sector, stressing that the country cannot afford a reckless transition but instead, the nation must “maximize value from existing hydrocarbon endowments” while simultaneously building a diversified and resilient energy future.

“Our transition must be just, equitable, orderly, pragmatic and people-centered,” he stressed, warning that Nigeria cannot decarbonize “at the expense of energy access or national growth.”

One of the strongest elements of his address was the government’s position on the on-going divestment of International Oil Companies (IOCs) from Nigeria’s onshore and shallow-water assets. Akume described the trend as a “dual-edged reality.”

While the exits reflect global ESG pressures, he pointed out that they also offer “a generational opportunity for indigenous Nigerian companies to take the driver’s seat in resource development,” adding that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) are being leveraged to ensure seamless transfer of assets to competent local operators backed by credible financing and world-class governance.

Reeling out key policy directions, the SGF said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s energy strategy is anchored on competitiveness, diversification, sustainability, and domestic participation, with central pillars of the administration’s agenda covering:

•The Presidential Initiative on Energy Transition, targeting 30% renewable energy penetration by 2030.

•The Electricity Act 2023, which decentralizes power generation and empowers states.

•Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, prioritizing power generation, transmission and distribution.

•Fiscal incentives under the PIA, particularly for deep-water investments, frontier basin exploration, and gas utilization, and;

The Decade of Gas Initiatives, which Akume said Tinubu has reaffirmed “as the cornerstone of our national energy strategy.”

Akume described natural gas as Nigeria’s “strategic bridge” to a cleaner future and highlighted key gas-driven projects being accelerated by the administration.

Chief among these is the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, financed through a blend of sovereign guarantees, development finance, and private capital in a project that will “unlock new industrial corridors and transform Nigeria’s domestic gas market.”

Read Also: Tinubu celebrates Fayose at 65, hails his courage, political resilience

He also highlighted flare gas monetization frameworks now converting waste into revenue, fertilizer and petrochemical expansions to deepen domestic value addition, and gas-to-power initiatives aimed at stabilizing Nigeria’s chronically underperforming electricity grid.

As global lenders tighten conditions for fossil fuel financing, Akume said Nigeria is adapting through a mix of domestic resource mobilization, blended finance, and targeted engagement with climate-linked global funding institutions.

Outlining four pillars of the financing strategy, he said that one of them focuses on the mobilization of domestic capital through which Energy Infrastructure Bonds, pension funds, insurance pools, InfraCorp, the Bank of Industry and the Sovereign Green Bond Programme will finance critical upgrades.

Also, government is leveraging international climate finance by intensifying engagement with the AfDB, World Bank, and Green Climate Fund for concessionary renewable financing.

According to Akume, through blended finance and PPP arrangements, public guarantees will continue to attract private investment for solar farms, hydropower, mini-grids and transmission lines while gas-focused transition instruments will give priority support to gas processing, transportation, and industrial applications.

Emphasizing that no community deserves to be left behind, the SGF stressed that the transition must be “just, equitable and people-centred,” adding that projects such as Solar Naija and the Rural Electrification Fund are being expanded to improve access for rural communities, women and youth.

“We cannot decarbonise at the expense of energy access or national growth,” he warned.

While inviting global and local partners to join hands with the Tinubu administration to “power not just industries, but the aspirations of generations yet unborn,” he also called for both the public and private sector to establish a unity of purpose.

“Our resources are not the challenge; our resolve is; what remains is to finance wisely, execute boldly, and collaborate sincerely,” he added.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has said Nigeria is developing indigenous capabilities to neutralise contemporary security threats.

Akume spoke yesterday at the Second Annual Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRDB) Seminar and Exhibition 2025 at the National Defence College in Abuja.

Represented by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, the SGF said research and development in the defence sector is no longer an option but an imperative for the nation’s survival, stability, and leadership on the African continent.

According to the SGF, in today’s rapidly evolving global environment and changing nature of warfare, national interests are projected through national power, underpinned by military strength, supported by research, technological advancements, innovation, and the sophistication of operational platforms.

He noted that numerous global examples demonstrate that the most secure countries are those that have advanced defense technologies, including cyber defense, unmanned systems, and artificial intelligence.

Akume said: “For Nigeria, research and development in the defence sector is no longer an option but an imperative for our survival, stability, and leadership on the African continent. We are compelled to keep pace with global trends by developing indigenous capabilities that can neutralize contemporary threats.

“Through the work of the Defence Research and Development Bureau, Nigeria should demonstrate the capacity to harness local talent, indigenous knowledge, abundant natural resources and technological innovation to provide solutions that reduce reliance on external sources.”

The SGF cited the Ezugwu Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, designed by DICON in collaboration with the Nigerian Army’s Command Engineering Depot, as a prime example of Nigeria’s investment in research and innovation paying off.

The Nigerian-made armoured vehicle has been battle-tested in the Northeast, proving that Nigerian ingenuity can produce world-class military hardware.

Read Also: We’ll sustain dynamics of our approach in combating terrorism, says Akume

He stressed that similar feats included the development of indigenous Tsaigumi unmanned aerial vehicle (2018), recognised as Nigeria’s first indigenous operational drone for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance.

“These achievements strengthen our sovereignty by lessening our dependence on foreign arms and technology. When we build what we need, we control our destiny,” Akume said.

The SGF emphasised that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda recognises security, a robust economy, and national unity as core elements for achieving development aspirations.

He noted that in line with this vision, the Tinubu administration has taken bold steps to enhance the capabilities and capacity of military institutions and personnel.

“This is reflected in the huge investments in military technology, fighting platforms, training of personnel, establishment of specialised military institutions, establishment of new brigades and units.

“He has similarly enhanced the daily allowances for military rations as well as post-retirement benefits for members of the armed forces,” Akume said.

The SGF stated that the Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRDB), established in 2022, is a forward-thinking initiative aimed at providing strategic direction for self-reliance in defense and security, and has become a catalyst for our military-industrial complex, poised to transform Nigeria from a consumer of foreign military technology to a self-sufficient producer, potentially earning much-needed foreign exchange through international sales.

“This second annual seminar affords us the opportunity to assess, showcase, and project the critical role of research and innovation in advancing our national defence and security policy and It similarly underscores the fact that knowledge and innovation remain the bedrock of a robust home grown national defence strategy, projection of our national power and the demonstration of our commitment to a safer and more secure Nigeria.

“We shall also acquire the power of deterrence,” Akume said.

The SGF highlighted areas where the current administration would support DRDB in achieving this vision.

He said these include adequate investment in security and defense infrastructure; building high-quality human capital through public-private partnerships; promoting research and collaboration across tertiary institutions; promoting indigenous technology; and establishing governance systems and structures that reward ingenuity and encourage calculated risk-taking on new ideas.

• Northern Christian leaders laud President’s fair appointments

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to inclusiveness, security, prosperity, and renewed hope.

He said the present administration would continue to engage religious and community leaders across the country in the pursuit of peace and development.

The SGF spoke at the Northern Christian Religious Leaders Assembly (NOCRELA) official inauguration and investiture with the theme: The Role of Christian Leaders in Nation-Building, at the Dominion Chapel International Church, Area 1, Garki, Abuja.

Akume stressed that the cooperation between the church, mosque, and government is crucial to nation-building.

The SGF urged Christian leaders in the North to continue to pray for President Tinubu’s success.

He said: “You are the custodian of faith and an integral component of society that plays a vital role in shaping moral conduct and promoting social values of; integrity, accountability, transparency and hard work.

“His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is striving very hard to revamp the economy through restructuring and gradual devolution of powers to the sub-nationals. His policies are already yielding positive results as more money is periodically sent to states and local governments.”

Read Also: Nigeria secures AfDB commitment for agric expansion as SAPZ rolls out to 24 states

Akume noted the favorable disposition of the President to inclusive governance, saying the current administration has ensured even spread of key appointments and the execution of capital projects across all regions to engender inclusive growth and development.

“This administration recognises the existence of diversities that have lived on for decades, and Mr. President is conscious about harnessing the positives to foster unity for a more prosperous nation,” he said.

Commenting on this year’s theme, the SGF said: “There is no doubt that the theme of this retreat is both timely and relevant. Across history, the Church has not only been a sanctuary of worship but also a driver of education, health, social welfare, and moral values. In Nigeria, Christian leaders have played pivotal roles in serving the society, fostering peace, and speaking the truth to those in power.

“All of you here did a great job. There’s no doubt about that. I come from a state that is 99 per cent Christian. Your voice and your example carry weight in guiding communities towards peace, unity, justice, and righteousness.

“Today, Nigeria faces some challenges, which are normal. Society is in transition. There are security problems. They are being handled.

“Economic reforms are being celebrated across. On the right path, the youth bloc is handling the situation. We are on course to locate the programs for the youth in this country. These programs are unprecedented and remarkable. We need a stronger social cohesion. These challenges are being adequately addressed. Positive signs are already manifesting. In this regard, your role as Christian leaders is indispensable. You are called to promote peace and reconciliation.

“Take advantage of youth development programmes. Put in place a government that has already been raised. Quite frankly, look at the programmes they have made. Look at the fact that they can also go to school without tears, without toil and sweat. It’s the first of its kind in Africa. You don’t have to be born to wealth and privilege before you have access to higher education, tertiary education.

“Over N90 billion has already been disbursed. Let me tell you frankly, most of them are from the northern part of this country. You don’t have to be denied access. The money is there for you to access. Exemplify the change we desire in governance and the government. The whole thing about democracy, about the power of the people.

“This government took off in very rough weather. Zero account in our reserves. What Tinubu did in Lagos, he is going to replicate the same. And that is basically what he is doing. There’s no doubt about that. Every president has toyed with the idea of rthe emoval of subsidies. What was lacking was what? the courage to do so. But Tinubu removed the subsidy.

“Again, you need to know the amount of money that is going to the states and to the local government. Huge. It is not that it is only the Federal Government that can feed the nation. All of us have the responsibility to do so. I speak from an advantageous position because I started from the grassroots. I am a village boy. Better days ahead of us.”

Archbishop Daniel applauded President Tinubu’s fair and inclusive appointments, despite the controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Daniel, who is also the Presiding Archbishop of Dominion Chapel International Churches, said the administration had dispelled fears of marginalisation among Christians in the North.

“We don’t feel sidelined. We feel part of this government. Without fear of intimidation, we can say this administration has allayed a lot of fears,” he told reporters.

According to him, several road and other infrastructure projects in Abuja, including in Area 1 and Durumi, have been abandoned for decades but are now being fixed under President Tinubu’s watch.

“It is not about a Muslim-Muslim ticket. Every section must feel represented, needed, and important in this country. We give him kudos for that,” Daniel added.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, yesterday urged Secretaries to State Governments to adopt digital tools for monitoring, analysis, and communication.

The SGF spoke in Jos, the Plateau State capital, at this year’s first meeting of the SSG and SSGs.

He noted that the integration of technology into governance is no longer optional but essential for efficiency, accountability, and timely decision-making.

Akume said the use of digital platforms would enhance transparency in government operations and ensure that policy outcomes are measurable and impactful.

The SGF described the offices of the SGFs and the SSGs as the “engine rooms” of government.

According to him, SSGs occupy a strategic position as coordinators of government activities, while their effectiveness directly influences policy execution and service delivery.

Read Also: FG disburses N330bn to households under social protection Programme

Akume urged them to embrace continuous learning and innovation, noting that modern governance requires leaders who can anticipate challenges and provide practical solutions.

He said: “There is no gainsaying that the Secretary to the Government is the engine room of all government operations. At the heart of our responsibilities are policy coordination, cabinet affairs management, inter-governmental and inter-ministerial coordination, institutional memory and continuity in strategic advisory roles.

“The reality of the moment is the fact that our roles as secretaries have become challenging and dynamic due to the ever-evolving technological advancements, which have shifted significantly in recent times. The complexity of governance today therefore, demands that we embrace digital tools for tracking, analysis, and communication. Citizens are now more enlightened, connected, and more demanding, and as such, our policies must reflect transparency, responsiveness, and inclusivity.”

Akume said the forum provides an opportunity to harmonise policy implementation strategies and address crosscutting challenges, promoting sub-national alignment with national development plans.

The SGF urged the participants to maximise the platform to deepen collaborative frameworks, strengthen integration in public administration, and remain committed to excellence, integrity, and continuous improvement.

“In the face of the current security challenges bedeviling our country, as secretaries to governments, we must be proactive in supporting security coordination and constantly upgrade our leadership skills.

“Let me remind you that, considering the nature of our governance structure, our work is interconnected. Policies, programmes, and projects conceived and formulated at the federal level are cascaded to the states for implementation. Therefore, this forum offers opportunity to harmonise policy implementation strategies and to address crosscutting challenges geared towards promoting sub-national alignment with national development plans,” he added.

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang restated the critical role of the SGF and SGSs, describing their offices as those of the chief advisory seats to the governors and the President.

The governor highlighted the expansive responsibilities of secretaries of governments, noting that thousands of secretarial and administrative roles operate under the office, particularly in the public sector.

He said the weight and complexity of issues handled by the SSGs make the office one of the most vital in Nigeria’s governance structure.

To preserve this institutional memory, Mutfwang announced that his administration had made efforts to identify and include all past SSGs, regardless of the political parties under which they served.

He noted that their experiences were invaluable for policy evaluation and the sound decision-making process.

According to him, their contributions will guide the government in making better judgments across key areas of governance.