Jonathan's ministers snub Buhari's committee

The President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, today received the interim report of the Transition Committee set up to assist the newly-elected President to transit smoothly to the Presidency. Although, there was no input from President Goodluck Jonathan’s ministers and officials, the committee was able to cobble some reports together.

The committee was led by its Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, at the presentation of the interim report, witnessed by APC chiefs.

In his opening remarks before the presentation, Alhaji Joda said the committee received tremendous cooperation from members of the organized private sector (OPS), Nigeria’s international development partners as well as stakeholders from across the country.

Alhaji Joda said his committee worked hard through four sub- committees to arrive at the interim report, adding however that the report does not have any input from the out-going administration.

He was optimistic that the final report of the committee would include the input of the present administration, provided it is made available.

The interim report dealt with issues of good governance namely the executive, legislature and judiciary, finance and economy as well as core sectors like agriculture, oil and gas and solid minerals.

The report also looked at Infrastructure and power and national security.

Similarly, education, health and social welfare which featured in the manifesto of the party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) were also intensely studied and recommendations made.

President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari thanked the committee for doing a thorough job and presenting an interim report within the time allocated to it.

Buhari, however, expressed disappointment that ministers and other government leaders were not at hand, so far, to brief the committee but assured that since the bureaucrats who write the reports will be at hand after the departure of the politicians, whatever is there will eventually be known.

He requested the Joda-led committee to be in readiness to resume work the moment the outgoing government’s handover notes are received.

Present at the event were APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Chief Bisi Akande, APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers.