Jonathan upset with Buhari’s committee

President Goodluck Jonathan has faulted some of the terms of reference of the transition committee set up by Muhammadu Buhari, the president-elect.

Abubakar Sulaiman, national planning minister, expressed the president’s displeasure while speaking with journalists after the federal executive council (FEC) meeting at the presidential villa on Wednesday.

However, he was reluctant to disclose which term of reference the Jonathan government was against, and warned the incoming administration against forming a parallel government.

On Wednesday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) issued a statement regarding the terms of reference of the 19-member transition committee inaugurated by Buhari, charging the committee with “reviewing and making preliminary assessment of the balance sheet of government with particular emphasis on the status of assets and liabilities of government; cash flow position of the government; quantum of public domestic and external debt of government and their deployment; government’s out-standing contractual obligations and its ability to meet such obligations and the status of implementation of capital projects”.

“The committee is also expected to undertake a preliminary assessment of the security challenges facing the country and the counter-insurgency measures taken by the government thus far; the counter policy measures being implemented in the Niger Delta to deal with unrest and major economic crimes in the area. In particular, the status of the Amnesty Programme, the readiness of the Police and other national security and intelligence agencies in addressing threats to law and order and provide a brief over-view of CBN, NNPC, NCC, Customs and
FIRS,” the statement read.

Other terms of reference of the committee were listed to include suggesting “quick fixes which will result in tangible, visible and practical measures so that change will be seen after 30 days, after 100 days, after six months of the administration taking office, and to make any other observations which in view of the committee would be helpful to the transition and take-off of the new administration. The committee has two weeks to conclude its work.”