According to him, “not likely so (members emerging as ministers). Some of us have decided to be volunteers rather than political appointees.” The members, it was gathered, could also be largely polled from the party’s national working committee, spiced with technocrats and experts from outside of the party.
The committee, headed by Vice President Namadi Sambo met at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday, to begin work on the guidelines for the transition and was expected to begin interface with the committee to be set up by the incoming administration.
Secretary to Government of the Federation, Senator Ayim Pius Ayim, said in a chat with State House correspondents after the meeting that it met to review the terms of reference of the committee and develop the guidelines for the preparation of the handover notes.
He said the Federal Government committee would later meet with the incoming government’s transition committee to provide them with clarification where necessary and answer any questions that may arise.
According to him, “the committee met, reviewed the terms of reference, discussed the terms, developed the guidelines for preparing the handover notes and the committee adjourned till the 20th of this month.”
On when the committee would commence meeting with the incoming administration’s transition committee, Ayim said that would come after the committee had finished collation of briefs from the MDAs.
He added: “After we have collated our briefs from the ministries, we will put it together and then, we interface with the other committee so that whatever clarification they want, whatever questions they have, we will be able to address that.
“Ours is to collate the handover briefs, prepare the handover briefs, prepare the president’s handover notes. Then, by the time we are ready, then we interface with their own committee. Whatever clarification they need to know from our own brief, we provide those clarifications and put them on the same page with us.”
On the terms of reference of the transition committee, Ayim reiterated that “our own committee is to collate from all the MDAs our handover briefs, then prepare them and interface with the incoming administration’s transition committee. Then, we also prepare the president’s handover notes.”
He stated that everything about the transition committee’s mandate would be completed and executed before the swearing in programme for the new administration.
It will be recalled that President Jonathan had requested the president-elect while conceding defeat, to make time out to come to the Presidential Villa for the commencement of the transition programme.
Meanwhile, the presidency has shut down social media speculation that it had set aside the sum of N3billion for the use of its transition committee to prepare for the handover to the new administration, saying the claim was pure fiction and an act of blackmail.
It has also pointed out that the Federal Government transition committee was yet to meet with the corresponding committee to be set up by the president-elect, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, contrary to the claim in the report.
A broadcast message had been circulated on the social media platforms suggesting that the Presidency had earmarked the money to the consternation of the president-elect.
The broadcast entitled: “Now I’m convinced we didn’t make a mistake,” read: “Buhari was at the villa in connection to setting up a transition committee for handing over. At the meeting, Goodluck asked for the list of representatives of APC and the required remuneration.
“Buhari was surprised that Goodluck’s list and corresponding cost was put at N3billion for a job estimated to last for only two months. Goodluck then asked why Buhari’s list did not show corresponding cost.
“Buhari answered that his team was made up of volunteers and their feeding would be by individuals/self even if they have to bring in leftover food from their homes. No word has been heard from presidency since then.
“This is the beginning of purposeful leadership...”
In his reaction to the message, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said in Abuja, on Monday, that no such thing existed.
He said: ““This is pure fiction and blackmail. No such meeting or conversation ever took place. Whoever wrote the copy obviously has never heard of being magnanimous in victory. A charlatan certainly.”
In a related development, leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is meeting tomorrow to finalise the membership list of the transition committee, Nigerian Tribune learnt Monday night.
It was learnt that though the members of the committee had been largely identified, the ratification would be done at tomorrow’s meeting in Abuja.
The committee will work with the outgoing administration of President Goodluck Jonathan of the new minority Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on seamless transfer of power at the centre and projects initiated by the outgoing administration.
A highly-probable member of the committee told Nigerian Tribune when contacted that the membership list was “still largely fluid.”
When the names of nominated members were sought, he said “not yet finalised until our Wednesday meeting in Abuja.”
On the likelihood of many of the transition committee members ending up as minister in the administration of the president-elect, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, the nominee disclosed that many of them could end up as volunteers for the administration instead of ministers.
According to him, “not likely so (members emerging as ministers). Some of us have decided to be volunteers rather than political appointees.”
The members, it was gathered, could also be largely polled from the party’s national working committee, spiced with technocrats and experts from outside of the party.
Jonathan, in the wake of his loss at the poll, had called on Buhari for a transition committee for smooth take over of reins of government.