Tinubu Dissolves Committee on Privatisation of Federal Government Properties

President Bola Tinubu has approved the immediate dissolution of the Presidential Implementation Committee (PIC) on the Alienation of Federal Government Landed Properties, declaring that the committee’s continued existence is no longer justified.

The decision was announced on Thursday in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

According to the Presidency, all responsibilities previously handled by the committee will now be coordinated by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.

The committee was established in 2000 during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to supervise the privatisation, sale and lease of federal government landed assets under the Federal Government’s monetisation policy.

Its membership included the Minister of Housing as chairman, alongside representatives of the ministries of transportation, justice, health, agriculture and the Nigeria Police Force. Professor P.T. Ahire, then a deputy director in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, served as its pioneer secretary.

The Presidency, however, said the committee had gradually expanded its activities beyond its original mandate, resulting in numerous legal disputes across the country.

“After careful consideration, the Government has noted that the activities of the PIC had extended beyond its original mandate, resulting in multiple litigations across the country, and the continued existence of the Committee is no longer justified,” the statement said.

Tinubu had earlier directed that the Attorney-General of the Federation should take over the committee’s responsibilities with effect from November 5, 2025.

Following that directive, the Presidency confirmed that the committee now stands dissolved.

The statement also directed the committee’s former secretary, B.S. Dutsin-Ma, to immediately cease representing the committee or the Federal Government on matters relating to its former functions.

The move is expected to centralise the handling of issues relating to federal government landed properties under the Office of the Attorney-General, with the aim of improving coordination and addressing the legal challenges arising from previous transactions.