FG inaugurates 25-man inter-governmental affairs committee

The Federal Government on Monday in Abuja inaugurated a 25-man Permanent Standing Committee on Inter-Governmental Affairs as part of efforts for smooth coordination and synergy between the three tiers of government.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Gida Mustapha, who inaugurated the committee, said it was reconstituted after it become dormant under the defunct Federal Ministry of Special duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs.

He said that following the scrapping of the ministry at the inception of the present administration in 2015, two departments of the ministry, Special Duties and States and Local Governments Affairs were transferred to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation thus making the committee dormant.

The SGF, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ecological Funds Office (EFO), Mrs. Habiba Lawal, said that in reconstituting the committee, the scope of membership was expanded by bringing in members from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs,) Secretaries to State Governments (SSGs), Director-General of Governors Forum, and the Secretary-General of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

He listed the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the committee as:

To serve as the coordinating link in the activities of the 3-tiers of Government in the fulfilment of their statutory obligations;

Remove all areas of frictions in the operation of the three-tiers of government;

Make appropriate policy inputs and recommendations on cross-cutting activities of the three-tiers of government;

Examine and take appropriate actions on petitions and complaints brought before it by the three-tiers of government;

Promote a harmonious fiscal federalism between the three-tiers of government; and to handle issues as may arise or referred to it from time to time.

The SGF, who is also the Chairman of the committee while urging members to be patriotic and put in their best performance, added that the committee can co-opt any MDA it considers necessary in carrying out its responsibilities.