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CONTRARY to wide expectations, President Goodluck Jonathan will formally hand over to General Muhammadu Buhari’s new administration on May 28.

Patricia Akwashiki, minister of Information, who disclosed this on Wednesday, April 15, to State House correspondents after the federal executive council meeting, said President Jonathan had, therefore, given all ministers with request for approvals from his office until May 13, deadline to forward such requests to his office.

Similarly, all ministries, department and agencies, MDAs, were asked to submit their briefs to the secretary of the government of the federation, SGF, by Monday, April 20, week to enable the president to prepare his handover notes on time.

The deadlines, according to Akwashiki, would enable the president prepare his handover notes on May 28.

She, however, said the decisions would not stop government activities during period of transition but cautioned that government would not engage in activities to suggest that it was rushing through some programmes before its exit.

“As you are all aware, we have transitional committee already set up by president, headed by the Vice President. Other than that, we have an inaugural committee that is headed by the SGF. So, everything we are doing, we are doing to achieve smooth transition, getting all our notes together.

“By May 28th, the president intends to have the formal handing over done at a dinner so that we can reserve the 29th for the incoming. By May 28th, we expect to have concluded one way governance and we are welcoming incoming government.

“Also, you know May 29th is our Democracy Day. So, we have activities lined up all through that week, showcasing all what we have achieved and all other things we do normally on our Democracy Day. Except that this year is special with the inauguration of our new president that is coming up on the May 29^th,” Akwashiki said.

— Apr. 27, 2015 @ 01:00 GMT

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