Boss Mustapha CFR[1] (born 1956) is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who served as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) of Nigeria from 2017 to 2023,[2][3][4][5] and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.[6]

Boss Mustapha
Secretary to the Government of the Federation
In office
1 November 2017 – 29 May 2023
PresidentMuhammadu Buhari
Preceded byBabachir David Lawal
Succeeded byGeorge Akume
Chairman of the
Presidential Task Force on COVID-19
In office
17 March 2020 – 29 May 2023
PresidentMuhammadu Buhari
Managing Director of Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority
In office
23 June 2016 – 30 October 2017
Personal details
Born
Boss Gidahyelda Mustapha

1956 (age 67–68)
Hong, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now in Adamawa State, Nigeria)
Political partyAll Progressives Congress
(2013–present)
Other political
affiliations
Peoples Democratic Party
(1998–2006)
Action Congress
(2006–2013)
SpouseOlufunmilayo Mustapha
Alma materAhmadu Bello University
Occupation
  • Politician
  • lawyer

He was previously managing director of Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority until his appointment to replace Babachir David Lawal as SGF by President Muhammad Buhari on 30 October 2017.[7][8]

Background

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Mustapha was born in 1956 in Garaha, a village located in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State in the North Eastern.[9] Mustapha attended primary school in Hong, Adamawa and proceeded to North East College of Arts and Sciences in Maiduguri, Borno State for his high school education. He graduated in 1976. He attended Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria where he received Bachelor of Law (LL.B) in 1979. He proceeded to Nigeria Law School, Lagos for mandatory one-year law class and graduated in 1980. He was called to Nigerian Bar in the same year. He did his one-year mandatory national service between 1980 and 1981.[10]

Mustapha started his legal practice in Messrs Onagoruwa & Co in Lagos as a Counsel in 1983. He had a stint at an Italian consultancy firm Sotesa Nigeria Limited earlier.[11] In 1994 he stablished his own law practice firm Messrs Mustapha & Associates and served as its Principal Counsel until 2000. He later worked in another law firm Adriot Lex & Co. serving as Principal Consultant from 2000 to 2006.[12] Mustapha has served as a member of several boards of companies in the manufacturing, financial services and oil and gas sectors – he has been described as a "boardroam guru".[11][13]

Early political career

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Mustapha entered politics in the 1980s after law graduation. Between 1988 and 1989 he was a member of the Constituent Assembly, the body that drafted the Constitution of the Third Nigerian Republic.[14] In 1989, Mustapha was the state chairman of the Peoples Solidarity Party (PSP) in defunct Gongola State but the party was among the several political parties disbanded by military head of state General Ibrahim Babangida.[14] Between 1990 and 1991, Mustapha was Adamawa state chairman of the Social Democratic Party, one of the two state-created political parties during the military regime. He ran unsuccessfully for Adamawa State governorship in 1991 under the party but lost to Abubakar Saleh Michika of National Republican Convention.[14]

In 2000, Mustapha was a member of the presidential committee tasked by President Olusegun Obasanjo to investigate the activities of the Petroleum Trust Fund under Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari resigned his position as executive chairman of the body earlier.[14] The committee, Interim Management Committee, did their work but the report was never made public.[15] Mustapha served as the deputy director-general to the presidential campaign of then Vice President Atiku Abubakar's during the 2007 presidential election.

Mustapha was deputy national chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria. The party was among the 3 major parties that were merged to form the All Progressives Congress on 6 February 2013 in anticipation of the Nigeria's 2015 general elections.[16] In 2014, after merger of their party he Mustapha ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Adamawa State.[17] He later served in the presidential campaigns and was among the members of its transition committee in Nigeria's 2015 election that brought Muhammadu Buhari into power. He is also a member of the board of trustees of the party.[11]

Secretary to the Government of the Federation

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Mustapha was appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation on 30 October, 2017[18] following sack of Babachir David Lawal who has been on suspension six months earlier for misappropriating public funds.[19] He took oath of office on 1 November 2017 during a meeting of the Federal Executive Council, in the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja.[20][21][22]

Coronavirus pandemic

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On 9 March, the President Muhammadu Buhari established a Presidential Task Force for the control of the virus in the country.[23] SGF Boss Mustapha was appointed Chairman of the twelve member task force, since then the task force has held daily briefings.[24]

Membership

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He is a member of several professional bodies including:

Awards and recognition

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In October 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari conferred on Mustapha a national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).[25]

References

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  1. ^ Okogba, Emmanuel (7 October 2022). "Buhari's national honours". Vanguard. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  2. ^ Agbakwuru, Johnbosco (30 October 2017). "Breaking: President Buhari appoints new SGF". Vanguard. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  3. ^ "FOR THE RECORD: Official citations of Buhari's ministers, SGF". Premium Times. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  4. ^ Ugwu, Romanus (14 June 2022). "APC narrows search to Dogara, Boss Mustapha, Ganduje". The Sun. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  5. ^ Chime, Vivian (10 March 2022). "Boss Mustapha: Nigeria's security situation improving — separatist threats have reduced". TheCable. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  6. ^ "President Buhari Appoints SGF Boss Mustapha As Chairman Of Presidential Task Force On Coronavirus". President Buhari Appoints SGF Boss Mustapha As Chairman Of Presidential Task Force On Coronavirus. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  7. ^ Inyang, Ifreke (30 October 2017). "Buhari sacks Babachir Lawal as SGF, replaces him with Boss Mustapha". Daily Post. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  8. ^ Busari, Kemi (30 October 2017). "PROFILE: Boss Mustapha, Nigeria's new SGF". Premium Times. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  9. ^ Wakili, Isiaka (30 October 2017). "FULL PROFILE: Meet Boss Gida Mustapha the new SGF to replace Babachir". Daily Trust. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Boss Gida Mustapha". Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority. Archived from the original on 15 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  11. ^ a b c "Meet the new SGF Boss Mustapha". The Nation. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  12. ^ Kehinde, Opeyemi (30 October 2017). "10 things you need to know about new SGF, Mr. Boss Gida Mustapha". Daily Trust. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  13. ^ "Agenda for new SGF, Boss Mustapha". The Sun. Archived from the original on 17 November 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  14. ^ a b c d China, Chidi (30 October 2017). "Mustapha the new Boss — the man Obasanjo appointed to probe Buhari's PTF". TheCable. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  15. ^ Pemu, Chris (30 October 2017). "Profile of Boss Mustapha, newly appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)". Nairametrics. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  16. ^ Maram, Mazen (7 February 2013). "Nigerian Biggest Opposition Parties Agree to Merge". Bloomberg. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  17. ^ Oluwagbemi, Ayodele (30 October 2017). "10 things you should know about new SGF, Boss Mustapha". The Punch. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  18. ^ "President Buhari Formally Sacks Suspended SGF Babachir Lawal, Appoints Boss Mustapha As New SGF". Sahara Reporters. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  19. ^ Akinwotu, Emmanuel (8 November 2017). "Nigerian president sacks senior official amid claims of corruption". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  20. ^ Tukur, Sani (1 November 2017). "Boss Mustapha takes oath of office". Premium Times. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  21. ^ Awosiyan, Kunle (1 November 2017). "Buhari Swears-In Boss Mustapha As SGF". Silverbird TV. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  22. ^ "Buhari Re-appoints Boss Mustapha As SGF And Abba Kyari As Chief of Staff To The President". Buhari Re-appoints Boss Mustapha As SGF And Abba Kyari As Chief of Staff to the President. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  23. ^ FTerhemba, Daka (10 March 2020). "Buhari names task force on coronavirus". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  24. ^ Agbakwuru, Johnbosco (9 March 2020). "Buhari sets up 12 member Task Force to control Coronavirus". Vanguard. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  25. ^ "News in Photographs: Buhari Confers National Honours on Distinguished Nigerians, Foreigners". This Day. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
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