President Buhari Swears In Six New Permanent Secretaries Weeks To Leaving Office

Barely a month before he leaves office on May 29, President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday swore in six new permanent secretaries in the Federal Civil Service at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.

The swearing-in exercise took place shortly before the commencement of this week’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

The newly sworn-in permanent secretaries include Mahmud Kambari from Borno State, Esuabana Nko-Asanye from Cross River State, Lamuwa Ibrahim from Gombe State, Yakubu Kofar-Mata from Kano State, Oloruntola Michael from Ogun State and Richard Pheelangwah from Taraba State.

Out of the six new appointees, four are from the Northern region of the country and one is from the South-South region while one is from the South-West region.

Reading the citation of the new officers, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said the event marked the culmination of a weeks-long prequalification exercise for directors by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

Adesina said that “Mr President, six persons have fulfilled the conditions as permanent secretaries after a selection exercise recently conducted for directors.
“This exercise involved competency tests and interactions with a wide range of stakeholders.”

Recall that on March 29, 2023, the Head of Civil of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, announced that President Buhari approved the appointment of the six permanent secretaries in the Federal Civil Service following the recently conducted selection process.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, Head of Civil Service, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, the President’s Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and the National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.) were in attendance at the swearing-in ceremony.

Also present were the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; Minister of Science and Technology, Olorunimbe Mamora; Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed; Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo; Minister of Agriculture, Mohammed Abubakar; Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire; Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite; Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami; Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare, amongst others.

But the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was away in the United States of America where he delivered a special lecture at the University of Pennsylvania advocating a just energy transition for Africa in the light of Climate Change.