Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has inaugurated a 20-member transition committee to ensure a smooth handover from his administration to the next on November 11, 2024. This committee, chaired by former State Commissioner for Finance Joseph Eboigbe, includes members who joined the inauguration ceremony online.
The establishment of the transition committee comes precisely four months before the conclusion of Obaseki’s administration on November 12, 2024. The governor emphasized that, in accordance with global best practices, the team is tasked with documenting the achievements of his administration since it began eight years ago.
Governor Obaseki directed the committee, led by Joseph Eboigbe, to gather and document all activities, policies, and decisions of his administration in a digital format. This documentation will serve as an institutional memo, complete with recommendations for the incoming administration.
Obaseki stated, “Today is the 11th of July, and it marks exactly four months to the day I will hand over government to the next elected governor of Edo State. As it’s global best practice, I am putting together a transition team that would have the responsibility to document the achievements of this administration over the past eight years.”
The governor further explained the committee’s responsibilities: “The team will collect and organize all documents and materials related to policy decisions made by this administration across all areas of government and governance over the last eight years. These will be structured in a data room. I believe most of these materials have already been digitized.
A comprehensive digital and physical data repository will be created where all documents related to every activity, contract, executive decision, presentation, and policy paper in every area will be retrieved, documented, and chronicled. This will serve as institutional memory for the next and subsequent administrations.”
Obaseki highlighted the importance of these efforts, noting, “You will compile reports on each area and aspect of government where we have intervened, along with recommendations for the next administration. This documentation and the associated resources should facilitate a smooth transfer of power and knowledge from this administration to the next.
Both physical and digital repositories of all the information and decisions taken during this administration will be maintained, as these documents will be relevant for both internal and external purposes, including research and policy development.”
The governor also outlined the scope and timeline of the committee’s work: “This report will provide a detailed account of the strategic vision and outlook of our administrative structure, the impact of our policies, and the status of completed and uncompleted programs and initiatives.
This will enable the incoming administration to understand where to take off from. The report should be completed by October 30, 2024, as it will form a crucial part of the handover documentation during the transition period on November 11, 2024.”
Joseph Eboigbe, the committee chairman, assured that the committee would execute their duties with diligence. He promised that the team would work hard to meet the timeline of their responsibilities, ensuring a thorough and efficient transition process.
The 20-member transition committee has been given until October 30, 2024, to submit their report. This deadline ensures that all necessary documentation and recommendations are in place well ahead of the end of Governor Obaseki’s administration on November 12, 2024. This meticulous approach aims to provide the incoming administration with a clear, comprehensive overview of the state’s governance and facilitate a seamless transition of power.
