In an interview with Arise TV on Monday, July 6, 2026, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, voiced concerns over what he sees as a flawed approach to governance, emphasizing the need to uphold formal administrative procedures for effective government operations.
Discussing communication protocols within the Presidency, Lawal stressed that the SGF’s office is the proper channel for handling official government business and relaying information to the President. He clarified, “I don’t route my communications through the Chief of Staff because I held the position of Secretary to the Government.”
He explained that during his time in office, the SGF’s office became the go-to point for processing official matters due to its institutional framework and access to critical decision-making data. “Over time, even some ministers recognized that for faster attention, their submissions needed to go through the SGF’s office—it had the necessary information to act,” he noted.
Lawal drew a clear distinction between the roles of the SGF and the Chief of Staff, describing the latter as primarily a personal assistant responsible for managing the President’s schedule rather than overseeing governmental affairs. “The Chief of Staff is part of the President’s personal staff, tasked with organizing his day-to-day activities. It wouldn’t make sense for that office to issue press statements or direct presidential spokespersons,” he said.
He also warned about the consequences of undermining established systems, arguing that circumventing formal channels leads to fragmented authority. “When governance becomes disorganized, you end up with isolated power centers—individuals who believe they’re above procedure,” he remarked.
According to Lawal, Nigeria’s vast size and complexity demand a structured system based on defined institutional responsibilities, not dependence on a select few with close ties to the President. “Nigeria is too large for one person to manage alone. Yet this administration often acts as if it’s governing Lagos instead of a country equivalent to 37 Lagoses,” he observed.
Lawal further contended that certain individuals close to the President have gained undue influence due to personal relationships, often bypassing officials charged with executing government functions. “Several people who know the President well appear to sideline key players in the system simply because they have his ear or understand his working style,” he added.
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