By Gideon Njoku
Newly appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, has assumed duties.
Akume assumed duties after he was sworn-in on Wednesday, 7th June, 2023, by President Bola Tinubu at a brief ceremony held at the Council Chambers, and witnessed by a number of people, including Akume’s spouse, Regina, who is a member-elect, House of Representatives.
Present at the ceremony were Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Head of Service, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, as well as some past and serving Governors.
The office of the SGF is the engine room of the Federal Government. Among other things, the SGF oversees:
There are also six (6) Offices in the OSGF (Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government). Each of the Offices is run and managed like a Ministry and they are headed by Permanent Secretary.
The Offices are:
>The Special Duties Office
>The Cabinet Affairs Office
>The Special Services Office
>The Ecological Fund Office
>The General Services Office
>The Political and Economic Affairs Office
Functions of SGF
Administratively, below are the key roles of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF):
1) OSGF handles matters related to the prerogative of mercy.
2) He handles petitions and appeals to the President.
3) He is charged with the responsibility of processing requests for duty tours and medical treatment of government officials abroad.
4) He coordinates, manages National Honours Awards.
5) OSGF is responsible for the supervision of some government agencies as directed by the president e.g New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).
6) The SFG serves as the frontline advisory institution to the office of the President.
7) The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation monitors and coordinates the implementation of government policies and programmes in line with the programmes of the ruling government.
9) The SGF evaluates the performance of the ministers and Permanent Secretary on behalf of the President.
10) He maintains mandate acceptance documents signed by Ministers on an assumption of office.
11) The OSGF serves as the Secretariat of the National Council of State, the Federal Executive Council and other Constitutional Councils which are chaired by the President or the Vice President as the case may be.
12) The Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government provides support services to Administrative Tribunals, Commissions and Panels of Enquiry.
13) He coordinates public safety matters and emergencies such as COVID 19 pandemic.
14) Represent the president when he’s delegated to do so.
15) He liaises with Secretaries to State Governments in a situation when FG’s policies have to be implemented at the state levels.
Akume is the immediate past Minister for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs. He was, also, a two-time Governor of Benue State.
During his tenure as Governor, he escaped death by whiskers in the hands of assassins while on his way to Abuja from Makurdi. His bosom friend, Andrew Agom, a former Managing Director of the Nigeria Airways, who sat by him in the car, was not lucky. He died in the attack, felled by bullets from the assassins.
Akume was on Friday, 2nd June 2023, appointed the SGF by President Tinubu.
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