By Bakare Majeed
The House of Representatives, on
Tuesday, passed for second reading, a
bill seeking to provide a framework for
transition of power.

The bill seeks to create a committee that
will oversee the transition of power from
an outgoing president and president-
elect.

Furthermore, the bill is proposing a 30-
day timeline for a president to transmit
nominees for ministerial positions to the
National Assembly.

The bill, sponsored by Kpam Sokpo
(PDP, Benue), was considered and
referred to the committee on special
duties.

Leading the debate on the bill, Mr Sokpa
said it seeks to provide a legal
framework for the procedure of
transition of power.

Speaking in support of the bill, the
Deputy Minority Leader, Toby
Okechukwu (PDP, Enugu), said if
passed, it would kill the mischief of
“body language and discretion by an
outgoing president.”

He stated; “This is a very important bill.
What mischief does it intend to cure? It
will kill the mischief of discretion. The
transition period is a period when a
country is vulnerable.

“It is the time for transition, not a time
for the body language of anyone. In
2015, we lost about six months due to
the fact that our cabinet was formed by
the president. It happened again in
2019.

“The opportunity cost is huge. The same
thing is happening in states.”

Summary of the bill
Section one of the bill seeks to establish
a transition committee to be chaired by
the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation.

Other members of the proposed
committee are; Attorney General of the
Federation, Permanent Secretary of the
Ministries of Internal Affairs, Foreign
Affairs and Information.
Others are the Chief of Staff to the
President, National Security Adviser,
Chief of Defence Staff, Inspector General
of Police, Deputy Clerk of the National
Assembly and Chief Registrar of the
Supreme Court.

The president-elect will also nominate
six members into the committee.

The committee will have the powers to
prepare a budget for the transition
process, subject to the approval of the
National Assembly.

According to section nine of the bill, the
committee will also ensure the provision
of adequate security for the president-
elect and vice-president-elect upon
pronouncement of election results by
the electoral umpire, INEC.

Section 19 provides that a president
risks impeachment by the National
Assembly if he/she fails to appoint
ministers within 30 days of his/her
inauguration.

According to section 19(1), the
president must appoint ministers within
30 days of assuming office while 19(2)
gives two months for the composition of
all boards of government agencies and
parastatals.

In 2015, President Muhamadu Buhari
appointed ministers six months after he
was inaugurated on May 29.
>When the bill was put to vote by the
presiding officer, the ” ayes” had it.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/462338-reps-mull-30-days-timeframe-for-appointment-of-ministers-by-president.html

Mtcheeeeew

Better...before another one will take Six months to select his cabinet again

another fruitless effort by the rubber stamp house

Instead of them to initiate impeachment proceedings against the worst president they are subserving under they are here legislating over a responsibility a president elect should even do before swearing-Hitting the ground running

GorillaApp:
Better...before another one will take Six months to select his cabinet again

not again