President Bola Tinubu has sworn in former Benue Governor George Akume as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Present at the brief event on Wednesday were the governor of Benue State, Hycent Alia, A Reverend Father, some servicing and former governors, including the former governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Almakura, and the immediate past SGF, Boss Mustapha.
Others were Vice President Kashim Shettima, President of the Senate Ahmed Lawan, Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, and the spouse of the new SGF, Regina Akume.
Akume, 69, was a former governor of Benue State between 1999 and 2007. He was also a senator, representing Benue North West between 2007 and 2015.
He was appointed Minister of Special Duties by President Buhari in 2019.
He is an alumnus of the University of Ibadan, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in labor relations.
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He was appointed on Friday by Tinubu to handle the administrative organization of the new government.
He is the 21st person to occupy the position. He succeeded Mr. Boss Mustapha.
After his inauguration, Akume told reporters:
“It is an honor to be chosen to serve in this exalted position out of over 200 million Nigerians. It is a challenge to serve in line with the oaths I have taken today. I assure Nigerians that I will do my best and that I will not disappoint the President.
“I will not disappoint this country; I will not disappoint my party. I believe Nigerians will find fulfillment in my responsibility as I discharge my duties.”
Recall that Tinubu had earlier announced the appointment of the former Benue state governor as the new SGF.
The President also appointed Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila as the Chief of Staff and Ibrahim Hadejia, a former Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, as the Deputy Chief of Staff.
The appointment was made public via a statement issued by the Director of Information, State House, Abuja, Abiodun Oladunjoye.
Akume was the immediate past Minister of Special Duties under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
(omayowa@globalfinancialdigest.com; Newsroom: +234 8033 964 138)
