Five Days To Go, Buhari’s Ministers Begin Hand Over

Five days to the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure, ministers have commenced handing over to permanent secretaries in their ministries ahead of the dissolution of the cabinet.

The eight-year tenure of President Buhari, which commenced on May 29, 2015, comes to an end on Monday, May 29, 2023.

Activities for the inauguration of the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, commenced weeks ago. The inauguration proper is slated to take place at Eagle Square, Abuja by 10am on Monday. Ahead of the inauguration, the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, is reported to have handed over to the permanent secretary.

A source said the minister would formally bow out today (Wednesday) although the dissolution of the federal cabinet is yet to be announced by President Buhari. It was learnt that Magashi, a retired major-general of the Nigerian Army, has already directed the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Ibrahim Kana, to take charge.

An official at the ministry said the minister told Kana that since the government is a continuum, he should deal with all necessary issues regarding the budget and contracts in line with set service rules.

Daily Trust reports that a valedictory dinner in honour of the minister will be held today to formally mark his exit from the ministry. In a formal notification sent to one of our correspondents, the permanent secretary said Magashi deserved the honour due to his “fatherly leadership style”.

“The permanent secretary, Ministry of Defence, is organizing a valedictory dinner in honour of the Minister of Defence, Gen. Bashir Salihi Magashi, in recognition of his meritorious service and fatherly leadership style in shaping and curbing the challenges in Nigeria’s defence sector during the period of his stewardship.

“In light of the above, I am directed to invite you to provide media coverage for the event scheduled as follows: Date: Wednesday, 24th May, 2023; Time: 6pm; Venue: AHQ Command Officers Mess 1, Asokoro,” the notification signed by Adelaja Gbemisola reads.