The new Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has requested that he should not be addressed with the title ‘Your Excellency’ because it is not constitutionally recognized.
Recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari swore Mustapha in as the new SGF before the start of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, November 1, 2017.
Following the handover of documents from the outgoing Acting SGF, Dr Habiba Lawal later on Wednesday, he requested not be addressed with ‘Your Excellency’, in any capacity.
Mustapha said,
I will make a passionate appeal. I don’t know where you people get this ‘Your Excellency’ from. Some of the nomenclatures are banana peels.
“I often hear people say ‘Executive Governor’, I say look at the constitution, there is nothing like executive governor. It is Governor of a state.
“I want to simply be addressed as SGF please. I don’t claim any superior experience or skills other than the grace of God.”
The New SGF added that,
“The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) is the engine room of government and we can’t shy away from our responsibilities. We have the responsibility to ensure that this government succeeds and if it doesn’t succeed it means we have not done our job.
“We are supposed to energise the policies of President Muhammadu Buhari so that the yearnings of citizens to live a better life will be achieved.
“I assure you that under my administration we are going to analyse our weaknesses and strengths and most importantly recover lost grounds.
Mustapha, who was the former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) was appointed by the president on Monday, October 30, to replace the previously suspended SGF, Babachir Lawal.
Babchir was sacked by the presidency over his involvement in a corruption scandal that resulted in his suspension since April.