The functions of the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari, with respect to ministers has not changed, the Presidency says.
Reacting to media criticisms of President Buhari’s directive to ministers to channel all correspondence through the Chief of staff, the Presidency stressed that it was just a verbalisation of the same role performed by Kyari in the first term of President Buhari.
“Recent media and social media reports on the responsibilities of the Chief of Staff to the President have suggested that the role has changed. This is not the case”, Garba said.
“Today, under the Buhari II administration the role of Chief of Staff remains the same as it was under Buhari I.
“It is worth stressing that the role and responsibilities of the Chief of Staff and the method of communication and arranging scheduling between Cabinet members and the President are, in Nigeria, based on the US model, where the same system operates – and has done for decades – in precisely the same way.
“That role is to act as the head of the presidential administration at Aso Rock; to be an adviser to the President on any and all matters; to be the line manager for all staff at Aso Rock; and to manage appointments and scheduling for the President.
“The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) on the other hand is responsible for ensuring the effective coordination and monitoring of the implementation of government policies and programmes. All cabinet matters must go through him.
“Under this dispensation, a performance evaluation of ministers and Permanent Secretary will be maintained by the SGF. Two weeks after assuming office, they are expected to sign mandate acceptance documents. He said.
President Buhari, had at a ministerial retreat for ministers directed all ministers to direct all executive matters to his Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha and his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari.
However, this announcement did not go without barrage of reactions from Nigerians judging from the controversies and issues raised against Buhari’s ‘most powerful’ appointee, Abba Kyari.
Political analysts have however allay fears that the pronouncement itself will further jeopardise the effective working relationship between the Ministers and the President.