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Tag: SGF

  • Ex-SGF Aminu Saleh is dead

    Ex-SGF Aminu Saleh is dead

    The former Secretary to the  Government of the Federation and Elder Statesman, Aminu Saleh is dead.

    He was aged 87 years.

    He died at Federal Medical Centre Azare, Katagum Local Government Area headquarters, Bauchi state on Wednesday morning after a brief illness.

    A family source who spoke to The Nation said Aminu Saleh will be buried on Wednesday evening according to Islamic rites.

    He is survived by one wife, 13 children and several grandchildren.

    Among his children are Sagir, the immediate past deputy governor of Bauchi state and Engr. Kabiru, eldest son.

    Former Bauchi state Governor Isa Yuguda described the death of the late SGF as a great loss to Nigeria considering his wealth of experience.

    Isa Yuguda, while reacting to the news of the death of the Elder Statesman, said” the death of the our elder,statesman is a monumental loss not only to his immediate and extended families, Katagum Emirate and Bauchi State but the entire country considering his contributions to the socio-political and economic development of the country over the years.

    In the statement signed and released by his Chief Press Secretary, Deacon Ishola Michael Adeyemi, the former Governor recalled that he enjoyed fatherly advises from the Late Aminu Saleh during his eight years tenure as the Governor of the State  pointing out that he was always frank and straight forward on matters that borders on good governance of leadership.

    Yuguda particularly recalled that the Late Elder Statesman allowed his son, Sagir Aminu Saleh to serve as his Deputy Governor between 2011 and 2015 declaring that he enjoyed working with him (Sagir) because of his loyalty and commitment, virtues he believed he must have learnt from the old man.

    The former Governor then commiserated with the immediate and extended families, Katagum Emirate as well as the government and good people of Bauchi state over the loss.

    He prays that Allah will grant his soul eternal rest in Aljanat Firdausi as well as the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

  • Give us SGF, group urges Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to appoint an Igbo as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

    The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) said their choice for the SGF slot is Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the first civilian governor of Abia State, arguing that he has the qualities for the office.

    They added that Onu’s personality and political exposure makes him not only the most eminently qualified, and will help the president win fight against corruption.

    The group also weighed in on the contentious relocation of Boko Haram inmates to the Ekwulobia Prisons in Anambra State, which has stirred anxiety in the community and its environs.

    In a release signed by the leader of the group, Okechukwu Isiguzo, they expressed their satisfaction on the steps taken by the federal government to recover stolen funds and restore sanity in critical sectors of the economy.

    They also called on the President to set up an investigative committee to revisit the mysterious death of some innocent Nigerians at the Ezu River in Anambra State.

    OYC wondered why those behind the dastardly act were yet to be nabbed and prosecuted.

  • ‘Southeast deserves SGF’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Anambra State, Chief John Onunkwo has said that given the place of the region in the socio-political sphere of the country, the southeast geo-political zone should be considered in the appointment of the next Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

    Onunkwo, who blamed election riggers for the APC’s poor performance in the zone during the last general election, also added that with his track records, experience and leadership qualities, former governor of Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige is adequately qualified to be the next Secretary to the Government of the Federation. He said though he was rigged out of the last elections thereby being denied of the chance of being the Senate President in the current dispensation,  Senator Ngige’s forthrightness,  love for the people and fearless stand him out as a good leader.

    “Senator Ngige speaks the truth no matter whose ox is gored, even if it is his relative’s ox. Ngige is a man that believes in fair play and justice,  technocrat per excellence, an all-rounder, a former governor, a senator, a former director in civil service” he said.

    Onunka added that “Ngige’s political and academic paraphernalia could dizzy one’s arithmetic of memory. He is so intelligent that his linguist prowess always calm frayed nerves whenever tensions are high.”

    He described Ngige as “a man who stood in opposition despite the carrots that were jangled at him, despite the numerous offers made to him by PDP cannot be said to be frustrated. You see, sometimes when one appears to be principled and is refusing to budge, then they make all kinds of claims that he is frustrated, that is nonsensical. This is a man who refused to play ball with the so called godfathers in Anambra, who staked his life for the good of the Anambra people. So those saying he is doing this just to get the slot of SGF or a ministerial position are clowns and should be treated as such and I can assure you that these are the antics of a drowning men,” he said.

    On the emergence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President, he said it was so unfortunate that Ekweremadu became a beneficiary of  APC’s victory. “He cannot attend any of the APC’s caucus meetings as a PDP senator. This is someone whose party shamelessly rigged out persons like Senators Ngige and Osita Izunaso who would have been ranking members and most qualified to lead the National Assembly,” he lamented.

    On insinuations that President Muhammadu Buhari is slow and dragging his feet on several matters, he said the President was not ready to take several decisions that may not fix Nigeria’s problems totally. “This is a nation that was bled for 16 years. If you know what Nigerians lost as a result of the PDP’s leadership, if you wish this country well, you would understand that it will require strategic thinking and planning to get this country at full throttle.

    “President Buhari understands these things and he is trying to set things right by understanding the real situation. In due course Nigerians will appreciate this measure”.

  • Kingibe, Jiga, Imam eye SGF

    Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe, Ambassador Baba Jiga, Alhaji Kashim Imam and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu are among those eyeing SGF in the Buhari Administration, it was learnt yesterday.

    A party source said these eminent Nigerians were leaving no stone unturned to get the position, which is considered a key appointment.

    However, it was learnt that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership wants a candidate from the South. According to the source, the agitation for the zoning of the position to either the Southeast or Southsouth gathered momentum, following the emergence of the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senate Leader from the North.

    Kingibe, seasoned diplomat and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jiga and Imam are from Borno State. Onu, a former university teacher and Third Republic governor of Abia State, is from Abia State.

    The source said: “The three politicians are eminently qualified for the position. They have experience. But, the President and the party will brainstorm on the appointment and the President will make the right choice.”

     

  • Buhari considers balance in SGF choice

    Buhari considers balance in SGF choice

    Three All Progressives Congress (APC) chiefs and a seasoned bureaucrat are in the race for Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

    President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to make up his mind  on who gets the job. Besides, he is battling to stave off pressure.

    Those either interested or being strongly recommended   for the SGF  are ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi (South-South), ex-Governor Ogbonnaya Onu (South-East), APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun (Edo) and a former occupant of the office, Amb. Babagana Kingibe.

    There is a bureaucrat from the North-East whose name was not immediately known yesterday.

    There are three issues Buhari is trying to resolve:

    •should the SGF go to the Northeast or the Southeouth/Southeast?

    •should he be a cosmopolitan young element or an experienced bureaucrat? and

    •how to avoid the “way and manner in which a former SGF turned the office into an ethnic enclave and destroyed the ethos of the civil service”.

    The former SGF reportedly politicised appointments, resulting in a situation whereby two people were given letters for an office.

    The President is said to be concerned about geopolitical balance in appointments.

    The power sharing in the Executive and the Legislature so far has shown that only the South-South is yet to be accommodated.

    The breakdown is as follows: President (North-West); Vice-President (South-West); President of the Senate (North-Central); Deputy President of the Senate (South-East); the Speaker of the House of Representatives (North-East); the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (South-West).

    But it was gathered that Buhari does not want to subject the appointment of the SGF to Federal Character Principle because of what a source described as “the sensitive nature of the office”.

    A highly-placed source in the Presidency said: “The delay in appointing the SGF is borne out of the fact that the President has left it open for the consideration of many eligible Nigerians irrespective of geopolitical zones.

    “Those recommended for SGF  are ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi(South-South), ex-Governor Ogbonnaya Onu(South-East), the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun(Edo); and a former occupant of the office, Amb. Babagana Kingibe, who is a long-time personal friend of Buhari.

    “Apart from playing a crucial role as the engine room of Buhari’s campaign, some forces in the Presidency believe Amaechi combines youthful age advantage and political experience to occupy the office.

    “The only fear of Buhari in Amaechi is youthful exuberance, temperament and a down-to-heart attitude which may not be ideal for a technical and diplomatic assignment.

    “But pro-Amaechi forces in the presidency pointed to Amaechi’s calmness, composure and successful coordination of the Presidential Campaign as signs of his readiness for the job.

    “They also said having staked his integrity and life on the line for Buhari, only the SGF is befitting for Amaechi than a ministerial job.

    “Amaechi’s dimension is a major challenge for Buhari. I think the same forces against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu are working hard to sideline the ex-governor of Rivers State because of his closeness to Buhari.”

    It was learnt that Onu appears the man to beat because of his reserved nature, academic excellence, especially having bagged First Class from the University of Lagos, and his cosmopolitan outlook.

    A former governor said: “You cannot see Onu’s credentials without being intimidated. In all the schools he attended, he came tops.

    “The challenge however is that with the South-East occupying the Office of the Deputy President of the Senate, the zone might not get the SGF again. You can see the danger of being slow in taking decision.”

    Although Oyegun is highly experienced as a former Federal Permanent Secretary, the popular thinking is that he is incompetent as shown in the way in which he handled the crisis in the National Assembly. “This has created a setback for him,” a source said.

    “As a matter of fact, Buhari wants Oyegun to remain in the party. I think they had issues when they were in ANPP and Buhari is favourably disposed to retaining Oyegun in the APC secretariat.

    “There is also anger in the party on how the NWC failed to be decisive on the sharing of positions in the National Assembly. It was a litmus test which will work against him in becoming the SGF.”

    It was gathered that if Buhari has his way, he would not waste time in appointing Amb. Babagana Kingibe, whom he had courted since their days in the former seat of power, Dodan Barracks in Lagos.

    It was learnt that when anti-Kingibe forces came to Buhari recently to de-market the former SGF, the President said: “Kingibe contributed immensely to my campaign. contrary to what you think.”

    “I think age and geopolitical balance are working against Kingibe. But he will certainly play a role in Buhari’s administration.

    “This is why another bureaucrat from the North-East is being considered too.”

  • For SGF, Ogbeh fits the bill

    SIR: The thoroughness deployed to the President- elect’s choice of cabinet members will determine the extent to which he is willing to go to effect the change that he and his party have been professing. The revolutionary outcome of the just concluded elections must be matched with an equally revolutionary cabinet that is truly capable of effecting a radical change of guard.

    Nigerians are looking forward to a cabinet that is vintage Buhari, reflecting all the fine ideals and principles that the General is known for.

    The major concern here is the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF – an office which is the single most important and strategic office to the president.

    The office coordinates government business, supervises MDAs and serves as secretariat to Federal Executive Council. Most importantly, it is the engine room of policy formulation and implementation which is the crust of government business. It is to be assumed that the occupant of an office this close to the president should be above board and as a confidant of the president, he must be trustworthy, honest, and dependable if he is not to become a liability to or lead the President astray on matters of state.

    Audu Ogbeh is one of the few politicians in the country whose background recommends him for the office. I am rooting for him because he shares one or two qualities with the President-elect that make them a good pair to partner on good governance. They are both respected for their good names and integrity which should naturally endear the one to the other and engender mutual trust and confidence between them.

    In a country where public office reduces erstwhile saints to moral dwarfs, Ogbeh, like Buhari, has always lived a noble and unblemished life. Neither has been found wanting, both in his public or private life.

    Also, they share an unwavering and burning passion to repair and rebuild Nigeria. Recall Buhari’s untiring attempt, four times in a row, to seek the platform of the presidency to deliver good governance to Nigerians. Ogbeh in his various talks and lectures on leadership leaves no one in doubt as to what good governance entails and how to deliver it.

    The other reason why I prefer Audu Ogbeh for the SGF job is because he is sufficiently endowed for it. He possesses the intellectual and administrative capacity to run the office. He has the drive and passion for work that is almost unprecedented among public office holders in contemporary Nigeria.

    Audu Ogbeh is a multi- talented personality who fits into life’s many departments. A seasoned politician, administrator, lawmaker, academician, agro consultant and playwright, his greatest strength ever lies in his chosen vocations, farming and politics.

    The country has everything to gain and the incoming administration certainly has nothing to lose if a man with this rich background is drafted as a key functionary of its government.

     

    • Alex Ohemu,

    Makurdi, Benue State

     

  • Jonathan approves deployment of Perm Secs

    Jonathan approves deployment of Perm Secs

    President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the deployment of some Permanent Secretaries.

    They are: Mr Linus Awute, from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), General Services Office, to Ministry of Health;

    Malam Mohammed Bukar, from the Office of the SGF, Special Duties, to the Office of the SGF, General Services Office,

    Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, was deployed from the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs to Ministry of Science and Technology; Mrs. Rabi Jimeta, from the Ministry of Science and Technology to the Ministry of Environment.

    Mr Taye Haruna, was moved from the Ministry of Environment to the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs.

    The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, directed that all handing and taking over should be completed on or before Wednesday, April 16.

     

  • How SGF sat on pension matters for four months

    Despite the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to look into the grievances of pensioners, the SGF has not convened a meeting for four months, it was learnt yesterday.

    The pensioners, who had planned to protest, shelved the rally yesterday, following a foiled jailbreak at the headquarters of the State Security Service (SSS) in Abuja.

    Speaking to reporters in Abuja, the National President, Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Dr. Abel Afolayan, said the union would not want hoodlums to hijack the protest.

    He said: “Who are the people dragging feet? We do not want to embarrass them.

    “For the past four months, the meeting has not been called. We have made this clear to the SGF that the suspended meeting should be convened. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has written to that effect that we want the meeting to be called so that the directive of Mr. President can be addressed and all problems sorted out and solved.”

    Commenting on the suspended protest, Afolayan said: “We have shelved our protest because of the volatile security situation. As elderly people, we are praying that the situation should improve. We have members all over the country. We have members in Adamawa. We have members in Borno. We have members in Yobe. We have members in Benue.

    “We are peace-loving people. We want these security challenges to be addressed. We want peace. It is not that we will shelve the protest indefinitely. But as time dictates and when we consider it right, if our problems are not addressed, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) will lead us in the protest.”

  • Awards in a time of cholera

    Okay, there was a scattered incidence of cholera in a few states of the federation recently which has been largely ‘managed’ by health officials of the affected states. But Hardball speaks metaphorically here deploying cholera to depict the myriads of economic, social and political ills afflicting our dear motherland today. It is not about that vicious ailment that makes your tummy run as if there is a damaged tap in it; it is about the surfeit of awards and recognitions being thrown about like confetti all over the country. And they come with large, grand ceremonies which often remind of what someone once described as the bonfire of vanities. Open newspapers, watch the television and you are likely to see such honouree tags like Corporate Titan of the year, Life-time Achievement Award; Man of the Year Award; The Best Dressed First Lady of the Year Award; The Most Amazing First Son of the Year Award. There is no configuration award merchants have not come up with (well, except the Most Excellent First Mother Award, upon which Hardball has initiated a patent action for obvious reasons).

    But the Federal Government under the auspices of the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) recently determined to blow away all other small-time award hawkers when it organised the mother of all events and awards. That came in the form of the Centenary awards which raised a staggering 100 honourees. Media houses and individual hustlers who thought they could make a nice living feeding off award ceremonies would be sulking at the muscling into their business by the federal might. It is remarkable that any award which did not come before the end of February this year may turn out to be an anticlimax and a no show as the centenary awards would have taken the shine off it.

    Indeed the centenary people were as indiscriminating as a scarlet woman the way they dished out the thing to all and sundry. As if afraid to leave out anyone, the Centenary award people cynically threw in all the good guys and all the bad guys into Nigerian cauldron. There may have been a sinister motive to make them all stew in the boiling pot; something akin to a mass burial and a mass redemption being executed with one wave of the magic wand.

    Our Centenary hackers must be the craftiest people in Nigeria’s history; rest assured that they would not be around in another 100 years to face the judgment of history, they have gotten away with historical homicide, so to speak. Not content with sitting our history on its head by seeking to paper over our colonial experience, they have also tried to muddle our current history. By Jove, every country must have her villains but the Centenarians have deprived us of ours when they honoured our coup plotters, treasury looters and grandee deviants. They have branded them as Outstanding Promoters of Unity, Patriotism and National Development. Now that every two-bit fellow who ever sat over our national treasury has been certified a hero, how come the country is so disheveled like one huge dung hill; how come there is so much cholera in the land?

     

  • SGF’s faux pas

    “Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF): Call for normination of delegates to the national conference” (Full-page advertisement signed by Anyim Pius Anyim, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, DAILY SUN, February 5) Spell-check: nomination. Senator Anyim, where are your media men? This kind of school-boy howler is utterly embarrassing, scandalous and unprecedented in the history of that office!

    “Nigerian universities have continued to go down in rating with its (their) antiquated and obsolete equipments….” ‘Equipment’ is uncountable.

    “PZ Cussons records N32.4b half year (half-year) revenue” (THE GUARDIAN Headline, January 24)

    “…he left Abuja en route (en route to) South Africa, yesterday afternoon.” (Source: as above)

    Finally from the Back Page of THE GUARDIAN comes this fault: “…especially at the beginning as those that paid the piper will certainly desire to dictate (call) the tune.” He who pays the piper calls (not dictates) the tune.

    “Questions over N500m Benue flood relief (flood-relief) fund”

    “It is no gain saying (gainsaying) that both officers and civilians sentenced on the incidence (incident) must….”

    “The suicide bombings, according to reports, had happened at about 4.30 pm (p.m.) when….” Time precision: either at 4.30 p.m. or about 4.30 p.m. The idea of using both in the same environment smacks of cloudy thinking!

    “Of course, the damages in goods and even cash will remain….” ‘Damage’ is non-count except in legal or other reparative circumstances.

    “We think the attackers were trying to ‘ethnicise’ their operation in other (order) to provoke a spontaneous chain of retaliations across the country.”

    “…write on the enduring power of the moneybag and confidant of presidents.” The second coming of Arthur Eze: power of the moneybags. ‘Moneybag’ is the bag containing a moneybags’ money.

    “In one of the minster’s house (houses) I saw….”

    “The man said he will (would) never say….”

    “Sources close to Aisha who became the third wife of Shinkafi in 2008 said the union has (had) broken down irrevocably….”

    “Note this! Change of name is now published every Sundays (sic!).” This way: every Sunday or all Sundays!

    THISDAY of January 24 is the next with a few flaws: “He is also advocating for airlines to have the right equipment and manpower to prevent future air accidents.” First, you cannot prevent past accidents! Delete ‘for’ and ‘future’ for lexical safety.

    “Mata undergoes Man U medical (medicals)” (Soccer Star Front Page Headline, January 24)

    “Mu’azu sworn-in (sworn in) chairman of PDP, pledges reconciliation” (THISDAY Front Page Banner, January 21)

    “Vigilante (Vigilance) groups partner to beef up security in Ikorodu” (Vanguard Metro Headline, January 21)

    “But I have not seen it happened (happen) in Rivers State” (THE GUARDIAN, January 20)

    “Tragedy as civil defence personnel kills mobile policeman” (DAILY SUN, January 22) ‘Personnel’ is a collective term and should not be used just for an individual.

    “Successor administrations had always declined paying backlog (backlogs/a backlog) of debts….” Mental handicap: Successive administrations.

    “Expectedly, the man at the centre of controversy had spared no effort to deny the allegations, pointing accusing fingers at the press and his detractors.” I say no to moronic writing: delete ‘accusing’ because pointing the finger means accusation.

    “The opposition is (are) not resting on its (their) oars, and have equally picked up the gauntlet to wade through the web of litigation.” Oppositional usage must be consistent with the verb formation: either singular or plural—not a mix.

    “Now that he had taken a honourable step, it is left for the rest of his colleagues to do justice to the allegations.” Powers of thought: an honourable step.

    “It is significant that the AU’s plan for the continent at the onset (outset in this context) does not include either democracy or development.”

    “…the president and his wife were some of the notables (notabilities) who arrived for the service.”

    “The innocent undergraduate is fast becoming a rare specie (species) threatened with extinction.”

    “Victims of this psychosocial hypnotism remain most pathetic human beings literarily going through life with mental numbness.” The yoke of linguistic freedom: a distinction between literarily and literally, which applies here.

    “Today, we present to you some of those inspiration (inspirational) touches and personal hints and tips that will make your year.”

    “For some (quite otiose) fifty years now, both countries have been at each others (other’s) throat over the status of….”

    “The last but not the least” This way: Last but not least

    “…the creation of a new society different from that inherited from colonialism will amount to allowing Africa to continue to groan under the reigns of bad governance.” A departure from arrested English: reins of bad government.

    “NURTW accuses LG officials of harrassment” Please, spell-check always: harassment.

    “Directional posts in the secretariat complex is (are) desirable” Faulty sentence as headline!

    “In this speech at (on) the occasion, the editor of. …”

    “The police…has (have) reacted to the situation by threatening a shoot-at-sight order.” In pursuit of justice in service of community: shoot-on-sight order.

    “Everything put together, therefore, the citizenry has (have) a right to expect more effective policing then it has (they have) got.”

    “Some police (policemen) have been involved in what looked like armed robbery activities.”

    “The nation is seeking to forget the state violence of yesteryears.” Our complete newspaper, a new-look product: ‘yesteryear’ is uncountable.

    “Sokoto Police poise (poised) to rout robbery gang”

    “…there is bound to be real problem (a real problem) in the country.”