Engineer Babachir David Lawal: The Core Duties Of The SGF

Yesterday, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Engineer Babachir David Lawal as the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF). 

Lawal, a graduate of engineering from the Ahmadu Bello university, hails from Hong local government area, Adamawa state and would be responsible for ensuring the effective coordination and monitoring of the implementation of government policies and programmes for the overall development of Nigeria.

Naij.com has visited the the official website of SGF in order to get a grasp of the core duties and functions of the SGF on a day-to-day basis in the order to keep the wheels of governance rolling. See below:

1. Coordinating policy design and formulation by Ministries, Departments and Agencies for approval by Government

2. Serving as Secretary to the Council of State, the Federal Executive Council and other Constitutional Councils, which are chaired by the President

3. Coordinating the activities of Ministries and Government Agencies on the implementation of Government decisions, policies and programmes.

4. Dealing with constitutional, political and socio-economic matters as may be referred to the Presidency

5. Administrative Tribunals, Commissions and Panels of Enquiry; vi) Coordinating national security and public safety matters

6. National Honours Award

7. Prerogative of Mercy

8. Protocol Matters

9. Channeling of papers and directives of the President

10. Processing and granting Government approval for Overseas Tours, Intergovernmental Meetings/Conferences, medical check-up/treatment by Public Officers

11. Processing requests for Overseas Duty Tours/Conferences including medical check-up/treatment abroad for members of the Judiciary, Chairmen and Members of Statutory Commissions/Bodies for approval by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

12. Coordinating the appointments to Headship of Statutory Bodies, Commissions and Agencies by the President

13. Dealing with matters relating to conditions of service of political office holders

14. Intergovernmental Affairs and relations with State and Local Governments

15.Liaison with Secretaries to State Governments

16. Allocation of office accommodation to Political Office Holders.

Interestingly, the SGF has his own cabinet members who assists him to effectively discharge his duties, they are grouped into the following:

1. General Services Office

2. Political Affairs Office

3. Economic Affairs Office

4. Special Services Office

5. Special Duties Office

Meanwhile, the Buhari administration has responded to the assertion that some of his appointments have been “lopsided”.