COVID-19: PTF transforms to presidential steering committee: Mukhtar Mohammed heads Technical Secretariat

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has transformed into a Presidential Steering Committee.

The Taskforce chairman, Boss Mustapha, announced the development at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.

Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said President Muhammadu Buhari took the decision at the expiration of the extension on March 31, 2021 granted the PTF and report presented.

He said President Buhari had considered the report and had approved the following:

Advertisement

“That the PTF will transition to a Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, effective from April 1, 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  shall last till 31st December, 2021;
“The Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) would:  maintain the present constitution, functions and strategies of the PTF;  be supported by a slim technical and administrative structure.

“The current National Incident Manager (Dr Mukhtar Mohammed) shall formally take over from the National Coordinator and function as the Head (Technical Secretariat) and member of the PSC.”