No change in traditional roles of Chief of Staff, SGF – Presidency

The Presidency on Saturday explained that the responsibilities
of the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President had not changed.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and
Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement in Abuja, frowned at
recent negative speculations, saying the role of the CofS remains
as it was during the first tenure of President Muhammadu
Buhari.

He said: “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.

“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.’’

According to Shehu, the CoS is to act as the head of the
presidential administration at Aso Rock and to be an adviser to the
President on any and all matters.

He said the CoS would serve as the line manager for all staff at
Aso Rock, and to manage appointments and scheduling for the
President.

“In the traditional presidential system, it is a primary
function of a Chief of Staff, which may vary according to the needs
and desires of each President.

“He is to supervise key State House Staff, control access to the
office and the person of the President, manage communications and
information flow and this includes that which binds the
relationship with the two other arms of government,’’ he added.

“The presidential aide, noted that during the President’s first
term those were the responsibilities of the CoS, and they remain
the same responsibilities today. There is no change.

“When President Buhari explained to ministers that they would be
expected to communicate with him and arrange scheduling to meet
with him primarily via the Chief of Staff, he did so as many of the
Buhari II Cabinet ministerial appointments are new appointments and
cannot therefore be expected to know how matters of liaising with
the President operate.

“This is to stress that access to the President is open to
ministers. It is not true that this is denied them in the Second
Term.’’

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) on the
other hand, according to him, is responsible for ensuring the
effective coordination and monitoring of the implementation of
government policies and programmes.

He added that all cabinet matters must go through him.

He explained that under this dispensation, a performance
evaluation of ministers and Permanent Secretaries would be
maintained by the SGF.

“Two weeks after assuming office, they are expected to sign
mandate acceptance documents.

“It is time to end the unnecessary controversy, for the key
appointees of the President to carry out their jobs,’’ he said.