UNVEILING NIGERIA'S NEW SGF; BOSS MUSTAPHA

At last, the much expected news  of the appointment of a new Secretary of the Government of the F Federation, SGF has been announced by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adeshina.

The new Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) is Mr. Boss Gida Mustapha.



NAIJ NEWS ALERT reports that the announcement of Mr. Boss Gida Mustapha  as the new Secretay of the Government of the Federation on Monday, 30th October by President Muhammadu Buhari following the sack of David Babachir Lawal, was in compliance with the recommendation of the probe panel led by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

Boss G. Mustapha is a lawyer by training, a respected management consultant, astute politician, business man and boardroom guru.

The new SGF was born in Adamawa State, Northeast Nigeria. He attended Hong Secondary School, in Hong Adamawa state and North East College of Arts and Sciences Maiduguri Borno state, where he got his WASC and HSC in 1976.

He obtained his Bachelor of Law (LL.B) from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979 and was called to bar in 1980. From 1980-1981, he served the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC); Directorate of Legal Services at the Army Headquarters and was in charge of the review of Court Marshall Proceedings.

Mustapha, after his National Youth Service, joined Sotesa Nigeria Limited, an Italian consultancy firm, as an Executive Director in charge of Administration and left in 1983 to join the prestigious law firm; Messrs Onagoruwa & Co in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

On leaving Messrs Onagoruwa & Co law firm, Boss Mustapha became the Principal Counsel in the firm Messrs Mustapha & Associates.

Mustapha’s legal interests and expertise includes privatization, commercialization and Liberalization of Public Companies/Corporate and Government Parastatals.

He was also involved in the preparation of varied and miscellaneous banking documents such as Debentures, Guarantees, Mortgages, Bonds and Loan Syndications.

When Mustapha was appointed as Managing Director/CEO of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), received by staff and  management, thanks to his vast public sector experience, legal background, extensive travels and contracts in both government and business.

The career highlight of Mustapha was his appointment as a member of Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the defunct Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF), serving meritoriously from 2000 to 2007.

During his time at the PTF, Mustapha was responsible for the production of an up-to-date comprehensive project and programme report, including location, coverage and whether performed, performing or abandoned production of the final report of Assets and Liabilities, examination of the Administrative structure and cost-effectiveness of Projects and Services among other duties.

Boss Mustapha is reported to have played key leadership roles at the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) serving as Social Secretary and Chairman at the Yola branch.

After serving seven (7) years, Mustapha was appointed Principal Partner of the law firm, Adroit Lex. Mustapha delved into politics where he became a member, Federal Republic of Nigeria Constituent Assembly (1988-1989), Chairman People’s Solidarity Party, Gongola State (1989-1990), State Chairman, Social Democratic Party, Gongola State (1990-1991); he was even a gubernatorial candidate for SDP in Adamawa state in 1991.

Boss Gida Mustapha was the Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria from 2010 to 2013. In 2007, he served as the Deputy Director General of the party’s Presidential Campaign Organization.

His services remained in high demand after the fusing of the ACN when he joined forces with other parties to form the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Boss Mustapha was a member of NCC and Secretary APC Presidential Campaign Organization Mobilization (2015) and member, APC Transition Committee (2015). He is also a member, APC Board of Trustees.

The new SGF is a member of various professional bodies including African Bar Association (ABA), Commonwealth Lawyers Association, International Bar Association (IBA) and Human Rights Institute (HRI).

Boss Mustapha is a respected boardroom guru, having been appointed to the boards of several companies in the manufacturing financial services as well as oil and gas sectors. He is the National Vice President, Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship international Nigeria.

A widely traveled person who, extensively has visited no fewer than 30 countries, he has always taken interest in how waterways assets are managed in those countries. His address to management staff on assuming office set the tone style and direction of his administration. He stressed teamwork and the need to focus on the Authority’s vision and mission.

He enjoys golf, lawn tennis, traveling, documentary films, charity work and meeting people.

He is married with children.