President Bola Ahmed Tinubu , on Wednesday, swore in Senator George Akume as the 21st Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
Senator Akume took the oaths of allegiance and office around 11:06 am inside the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, at the brief ceremony attended by dignitaries, including some serving and former former governors.
The VIPs included Vice President Kashim Shettima; President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan; Governors AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and Hyacinth Alia of Benue State; Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan and the spouse of the new SGF, Mrs Regina Akume.
Former governors Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi); Simon Lalong (Plateau); Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa); and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) also attended the ceremony.
Speaking to reporters after his inauguration, Akume said: ”It is an honour 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 I will do my best and 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.”
The former Governor of Benue State and immediate-past Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs said Nigerians would reap the dividends of democracy as President Tinubu had always been a performer whose footsteps would be followed.
“He (Tinubu) has always been in the arena, down in the arena, are the doers. He’s always the doer. And so we have to tag along, we must never afford to fail.”
Benue State Governor, Rev Fr. Aliah, while speaking, expressed confidence that the new SGF who hailed from his state would deliver and the nation would be proud of the choice.
The immediate past SGF, Boss Mustapha, said Akume would supervise an extremely important office in terms of stringent coordination of government activities, policies, programmes and projects.
He expressed confidence that the new occupant of the position would take the office which controls six ministries a notch higher.
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