President Bola Tinubu has sworn-in Senator George Akume as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The brief event, which gathered dignitaries, including some serving and former Governors, saw Senator Akume taking his Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office around 11:06 am inside the Council Chambers of the Villa.
The immediate-past Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs took the oaths of allegiance and office in a ceremony at the Council Chambers, State House in the presence of the President, Vice President Kashim Shettima and senior Government officials.
Akume, 70, was Governor of Benue State from May 1999 to May 2007.
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Following his tenure as Governor, he was elected as Senator representing Benue North West in 2007.
Akume was re-elected in 2011 and 2015, demonstrating the trust reposed in him by his constituents.
During his term in the Senate, Akume served as Minority Leader from June 2011 to June 2015.
Prior to his political career, Akume started work as a civil servant in the Benue State Civil Service in 1979 as a Land Officer.
Over the years, he held various positions in both the State and Federal governments, retiring voluntarily as a Federal Permanent Secretary, Establishments and Management Services, in 1998.
Speaking to journalists after the ceremony, the new SGF promised not to disappoint Nigerians, noting that he had been very privileged to have been selected out of millions of citizens to serve the nation in that capacity.
“To have been selected to serve in this exalted position out of over 200 million Nigerians, it is a challenge to serve in line with the oath I have taken today. I assure Nigerians I will do my best, I will not disappoint the President, I will not disappoint this country and I will not disappoint my party.
“I believe, Nigerians will find fulfilment in my responsibilities as I discharge that in their own interest. It is an honour to serve the country and I am strongly persuaded that guided by Almighty God, I will do my best and Nigerians will really have to reap the dividends of democracy,” he said.
The SGF noted his wealth of experience will be brought to bear as he begins his work, adding that he will follow the footsteps of President Bola Tinubu.
“I am someone who has been on the scene for quite some time and I know the man we are serving, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President and we just have to follow his footsteps. He has never been in the gallery, where is always full of critics. He has always been in the arena, where the doers are. He is a doer, so we have to tag along. We must never afford to fail,” Akume said.
