OUT-GOING ministers have been handed an April 20 deadline to submit their handover notes from their ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) for a proper coordination preparatory to the eventual handover on May 29, 2015.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who handed down the order during the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja said it was necessary to allow the SGF prepare thorough and comprehensive handover notes to the incoming administration led by Muhammadu Buhari.

Information Minister, Patricia Akwashiki, while briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, also confirmed that the SGF, Anyim Pius Anyim would head the Handover Committee .

This is in addition to the Transition Committee headed by the Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo which held its inaugural meeting on Monday, with a follow-up , scheduled for next week. Akwashiki who explained other aspects of the transition as approved by FEC said President Jonathan intended to make the May 29 transition effective, noting that series of activities have been lined up for the event.

She said Jonathan also wanted any memorandum requiring his approval to be concluded by May 13. According to her, the Council would hold its valedictory service on May 20; while the president will also host a dinner on May 28.

“You know we are already in transition so there is very little to report, but because of the deadline, we are going to be very busy this weekend putting our handing-over notes together.

“The President also emphasized that he would require another briefing from all MDAs to indicate inherited projects, how far they have been executed, as well as those initiated by his administration and their level of completion, ongoing or abandoned.

“Even though, we discussed other issues , we paid particular attention to the transition and how to make it effective. “Other than that, we have an inaugural committee that is headed by the SGF.

So everything we are doing we are doing to achieve smooth transition, getting all our notes together. “Also you know May 29 is our Democracy Day so we have activities lined-up all through that week, showcasing all what we have achieved and all other things we do normally on our Democracy Day except that this year’s is special with the inauguration of our new president that is coming up same day “ She allayed fears that governance would grind to a halt before the May 29 handover date, adding:

“It is for the MDAs to submit their notes to the SGF who is expected handle the total package of the handing over to the incoming administration “There is a format so it becomes easier for all the MDAs to follow the template. If they do that it will be easier for the president.

The format is to ensure you submit everything before they pass it to the incoming government. That is not to say that governance has stopped, of course we are in government until the day the president-elect takes oath of office.

“There is no vacuum , things are happening. And if you have any pending contract approval it has to be submitted before the 13th May. Everything that requires the president’s approval should be submitted before April 13th.

We also do not want the incoming administration to accuse us of rushing projects. “And if you have approvals , we are going to have Federal Executive Council meeting every week. The last will be the valedictory meeting on May 20th. So governance is not stopping, we are still working and in the event you have approvals it must be concluded before 13th.”