George Akume (; born 27 December 1953) is a Nigerian

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

who is the 21st and current Secretary to the Government of the Federation. He served as Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs from 2019 to 2023, during the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. He was the

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

representing Benue North-West Senatorial District between 2007 and 2019. He was also the Minority Leader of the Senate from June 2011 to June 2015. He served as the Governor of Benue State from May 1999 to May 2007. Akume was re-elected Senator for Benue North-West in the April 2011 elections, running on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria. He won another term in 2015 but lost to Senator Emmanuel Yisa Orker-Jev of the PDP in 2019. On 23 July 2019, President Buhari nominated Akume to serve as the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs. Tiv people

Early life and education

Akume obtained a bachelor's degree in Sociology and a master's degree in Labour Relations from the University of Ibadan.

Political career

Career in state government

In 1999, Akume became

governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

of Benue State and served two terms of four years. In 2007, he won election to represent the people of Benue as a senator for Benue North-West in Nigeria's senate. Akume was re-elected Senator for Benue North-West in the April 2011 elections, running on the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) platform. He polled 261,726 votes, defeating Terngu Tsegba of the PDP who won 143,354 votes. He was again re-elected to the senate under the platform of the

All Progressives Congress The All Progressives Congress (APC) is one of the two major contemporary political parties in Nigeria, along with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Founded on 6 February 2013 from a merger of Nigeria's three largest opposition parties, t ...

(APC) in 2015. He was chairman senate committee on army and a ranking member of senate.

Career in national government

Akume was nominated and confirmed a minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nigeria by Muhammadu Buhari. On 2 June 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed him Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

National honours

In May 2023, Akume was conferred Nigerian national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Personal life

George Akume is married to Regina Akume, a member of the House of Representative.

Projects

* Water Project

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Akume, George 1953 births Living people Nigerian Roman Catholics Governors of Benue State Senators of the 8th National Assembly (Nigeria) Senators of the 7th National Assembly (Nigeria) Senators of the 6th National Assembly (Nigeria) People from Benue State All Progressives Congress politicians Peoples Democratic Party state governors of Nigeria University of Ibadan alumni Secretary to the government federation of Nigeria Commanders of the Order of the Niger