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Meet Hakeem Muri-Okunola, President Tinubu’s principal private secretary
Hakeem Muri-Okunola, the Lagos state head of service, will be named principal private secretary (PPS) to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Muri-Okunola, also known as “HMO”, was a personal assistant to Tinubu between 2003 and 2005 when he was governor of Lagos state.
Tinubu, after that, appointed him executive secretary of the land use and allocation committee.
He became permanent secretary in 2011, about 10 years after joining the civil service, and was posted to the Lands Bureau in the Governor’s Office.
He has been head of the service since December 2018, when he took over from Folashade Adesoye.
HMO, who was 51 in January, is the first son of the late Justice Muritala Okunola.
The role of a Principal Private Secretary to the President can vary depending on the specific context and country. However, generally speaking, the Principal Private Secretary (PPS) is a senior administrative position responsible for managing and coordinating the President’s office and acting as a key advisor and gatekeeper.
Here are some common responsibilities of a Principal Private Secretary to the President:
- Gatekeeping: The PPS manages access to the President, screening and prioritizing requests, visitors, and correspondence. They act as a filter, ensuring that only the most important and relevant matters reach the President’s attention.
- Scheduling and Coordination: The PPS manages the President’s schedule, organizing meetings, events, and official engagements. They coordinate with various departments, government officials, and external stakeholders to ensure smooth operations and timely execution of the President’s agenda.
- Information Management: The PPS keeps the President informed about critical issues, policy matters, and current events. They gather and analyze information, prepare briefing materials, and provide the President with relevant data and context to aid decision-making.
