By John Moses
President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Committee to organise a state burial for Nigeria’s late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by Mr Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
The committee will be chaired by the SGF, Senator George Akume, and is tasked with planning and coordinating what has been described as a befitting state burial for the late elder statesman.
Its membership includes several senior government figures: the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning; Minister of Defence; Minister of Information and National Orientation; Minister of Works; Minister of Interior; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); Minister of Housing and Urban Development; Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare; and Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy.
Also on the committee are the National Security Adviser; Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political and Other Matters; Inspector-General of Police; Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS); and the Chief of Defence Staff.
The statement noted that the Permanent Secretary of the General Services Office will act as the committee’s secretariat.
In addition, President Tinubu has instructed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to open condolence registers in their offices to allow the public to pay their respects.
Central condolence registers for the diplomatic community and members of the public will also be opened at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
