The Federal Government has tasked the Secretaries to State Governments (SSGs) with ensuring that national policies are
translated into actionable outcomes that directly improve the lives of people in their respective states.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, made this call on Thursday in Abuja at the first meeting of the Forum of the Secretaries to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Secretaries to State Governments (SSGs) in 2024.
He emphasized the need for harmonizing efforts and working together in synergy to build stronger, more adaptive governance structures capable of meeting the diverse needs of the Nigerian populace.
Akume’s call for synergy was echoed by a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who urged the Federal Government to establish the SGF Office as a constitutional entity backed by enabling law.
The SGF noted that since the beginning of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, several bold policies and reform initiatives have been introduced with the aim of revitalizing and repositioning the nation’s economy for the benefit of all Nigerians.
He disclosed that this year’s forum is centered on a critical theme: “Improving Policy Coordination and Implementation for Sustainable National Development: The Role of Secretaries to State Governments.
He stated: “In these challenging times, the importance of policy coordination and implementation is more critical than ever. As Nigeria navigates a complex array of socio-economic, environmental, and security challenges, it is imperative that we take clear, unified action across all levels of government.”
The success of our national agenda depends on how effectively we align federal, state, and local policies—ensuring that they are not only well-conceived but also consistently implemented.
Achieving this requires a deep commitment to collaboration and a shared vision of our common goals,” Akume stated.
Meanwhile, in his keynote presentation at the event, former SGF Senator Anyim Pius Anyim called for the institutionalization of SGF and SSG offices to enhance their roles in coordinating and harmonizing government policies while serving as the engine rooms and institutional memories of administration at both the Federal and State levels.
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Anyim noted that, as important as the offices of the SGF and SSG are, they are not creations of the Constitution, which leaves the occupants of these offices handicapped in many ways.
According to him, both offices are mentioned in the Constitution, in Section 171 and Section 208, concerning the appointment of the SGF by the President and the SSG by the Governor, respectively.
He highlighted that the offices of the SGF and SSG serve as the first reference point for the President or Governor for any information on governance.
This is why the SGF or SSG is often called the Frontline Advisor to the President or Governor, as they keep all records and documents.
He therefore stressed the need to amend the Constitution to establish the SGF and SSG as constitutional entities with clearly defined functions, in order to strengthen the governance system in the country.