Buhari upgrades PTF to COVID-19 steering c’ttee

… Extends tenure to December

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has approved the transitioning of the taskforce on COVID-19 to a Presidential Steering Committee.

 Buhari announced the upgrade while approving Presidential Taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19 End-Term Review Report effective.

According to him, while the approval takes effect on April 1, the committee will remain in office till 31st December with a mandate to meet once a month but will keep the nation informed on regular basis.

Chairman of PTF on COVID-19 and Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha disclosed this at yesterday’s media briefing in Abuja.

“That the PTF will transition to a Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, effective from 1 April 2021, with a modified mandate to reflect the non-emergent status of COVID-19 as a potentially long-term pandemic; that the structure of the PSC shall reflect the new focus of the response with a targeted approach on vaccine oversight, risk communication, international travel quarantine processes and sub-national engagement; and that the tenure of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) shall last till 31st December, 2021,” he said.

Communication, international travel quarantine processes and sub-national engagement; and that the tenure of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) shall last till 31st December, 2021,” he said.

Mustapha also said the PSC going forward would to “maintain the present constitution, functions and strategies of the PTF; be supported by a slim technical and administrative structure.

The SGF said President Buhari had also approved that the current National Incident Manager Dr. Mukhtar Mohammed to formally take over from the National Coordinator and function as the Head Technical Secretariat and member of the PSC.