*Says President said nothing new to best practices
The Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has said the controversy being brewed by some elements in the country over recent statement by President Muhammadu Buhari on role of his Chief of Staff (CoS) and Scretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) is unnecessary and must therefore stop.
It said the needless controversy must stop to allow the key appointees of President carry out their jobs.
Communicating this in a statement sent to The DEFENDER over the weekend was the Pesident’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, who said it was not the case, as insinuated by recent media and social media reports on the responsibilities of the Chief of Staff to the President, that the role has changed.
He also took time out to remind critics and entire citizenry all that they need to know also about the role of SGF adding that there is nothing the President has done now that is of any departure from international best practices.
Mallam Shehu said President Buhari, who spoke on the roles of CoS at the recent retreat for then ministers-designate, did so because of new comers among them who should know how matters of liaising with the Office of the President operate.
He said: “Today, under the Buhari II administration the role of Chief of Staff remains the same as it was under Buhari I.
“It is worth stressing that the role and responsibilities of the Chief of Staff and the method of communication and arranging scheduling between Cabinet members and the President are, in Nigeria, based on the US model, where the same system operates – and has done for decades – in precisely the same way.
“That role is to act as the head of the presidential administration at Aso Rock; to be an adviser to the President on any and all matters; to be the line manager for all staff at Aso Rock; and to manage appointments and scheduling for the President.
In the traditional presidential system, it is a primary function of a Chief of Staff, which may vary according to the needs and desires of each President, to supervise key State House Staff, control access to the office and the person of the President, manage communications and information flow and this includes that which binds the relationship with the two other arms of government.
During the President’s first term those were the responsibilities of the Chief of Staff, and they remain the same responsibilities today. There is no change.
When President Buhari explained to ministers that they would be expected to communicate with him and arrange scheduling to meet with him primarily via the Chief of Staff, he did so as many of the Buhari II Cabinet ministerial appointments are new appointments and cannot therefore be expected to know how matters of liaising with the President operate.
This is to stress that access to the President is open to ministers. It is not true that this is denied them in the Second Term.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) on the other hand is responsible for ensuring the effective coordination and monitoring of the implementation of government policies and programmes. All cabinet matters must go through him.
Under this dispensation, a performance evaluation of ministers and Permanent Secretary will be maintained by the SGF. Two weeks after assuming office, they are expected to sign mandate acceptance documents.
It is time to end the unnecessary controversy, for the key appointees of the President to carry out their jobs.
