May 29: Council Of State Approves Timeline For Incoming Government (Check out the timeline)

A template for the smooth inauguration of the incoming government was approved today by the influential National Council of State, News Agency of Nigeria reports. 

The council which comprises the President, his Vice, Senate President, former Heads of State and Presidents, Chief Justice of the Federation, former Chief Justices and State Governors approved the template to ensure the uniformity of future transitions in Nigeria.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Benue State Governor, Gabriel

Suswam said, “The Council decided that henceforth there has to be a template that successive transitions will follow. We never had it, this is the first time that one is going to be developed so that subsequently there is no speculation as to what needs to be done, everything is in a template.

“Yes, if there is a transition whether is the same party to the same party, they follow the same template. If it is from one party to another party, the same template, this is the first time that it is being developed; you notice or recall that we never really have a template as what to follow, how we go about our transition.

“But what is going to happen this time around is going to be permanent for successive transitions.’’

Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State who also spoke at the parley with journalists, said  arrangements had been concluded for the smooth May 29 inauguration of the incoming administration.

He informed the journalists that said invitations to the inauguration ceremony has been  extended to all heads of states and governments within and outside the African continent so they can partake in the event.

He  said invitations were also extended to the Prime Ministers of the G8, and heads of global bodies like the United Nations and the Commonwealth.

He said,

“For activities on the template for this one, we said the May 22 will be for the Friday Prayer, May 24 will be Sunday Service, May 28 will be for both handing over of documents as well as dinner and May 29 apart from the inauguration, there will be a luncheon and there will be a gala night.’’

The meeting was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan and witnessed the presence of  Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and all former Heads of State alive.

Meanwhile, President Jonathan today, approved the appointment of Justice Amiru Sanusi as a Justice of the Supreme Court.