By G9ija
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), is currently overseeing the Council of State meeting held in the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja.
The gathering, which marks the first of 2023, takes place 14 days prior to the Presidential elections and amidst two major economic challenges: a fuel crisis and a shortage of cash due to the Central Bank’s Naira redesign initiative.
Among those in attendance are former Heads of State General Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalami Abubakar, as well as former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Council of State meeting is being attended both physically and virtually, with former President Olusegun Obasanjo joining in remotely. Only 14 governors are present in person, with some represented by their deputies.
Additionally, the meeting is being attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and two former Chief Justices of Nigeria, among others.
Other notable attendees include the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, who have come to provide updates to the council.
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, are also present at the meeting.
The Council of State is a key advisory body of the Federal Government of Nigeria. It is composed of the President serving as the chairman and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo serving as the deputy chairman.
Additionally, the council includes all living former Presidents and Heads of State, the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, all 36 state governors, and the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami. The council is tasked with providing guidance to the executive on important policy matters.