Personnel from agencies under the Presidency have expressed concerns about the oversight visits being undertaken by the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
They argue that such an oversight is traditionally the responsibility of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the National Assembly.
Gbajabiamila has visited several agencies, including the National Agricultural Land Development Authority, the Bureau of Public Procurement, and the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission. Ahead of his visits, agency heads were briefed on what to expect and were cautioned against carrying out employments without securing “appropriate waivers.”
Critics argue that Gbajabiamila may be overstepping his role and encroaching on the responsibilities of other offices, potentially leading to infighting and undermining the authority of the SGF and other senior government officials.
However, some senior staff in the Office of the SGF expressed divergent views, with one director stating that as long as there are no illegalities or infractions of existing rules, there is nothing wrong with the Chief of Staff’s oversight visits.
The House of Representatives has stated that the oversight visits are not in conflict with their mandate, and some civil society organizations (CSOs) have expressed cautious support for the visits, while others have called for scrutiny of Gbajabiamila’s actions.
The Presidency and the Office of the SGF have declined to comment on the issue.
Source: Daily Trust