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Buhari chairs Council of States meeting with Obasanjo, Jonathan, governors, and others.

By Ann Chime

March 03, 2023

The National Council of State is currently meeting under the chairmanship of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The summit is anticipated to cover significant Nigerian topics like the currency crisis and the fuel shortage. It will also go over the general election’s preparations.

The Nigerian government’s National Council of State has the authority to advise the Executive on policy decisions.

Before the Council of State meeting, President Buhari and other former Nigerian presidents were seen talking.

The President, Vice President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, ex-presidents, ex-heads of state, ex-chief justices of Nigeria, presidents of the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as the governors of the 36 states that make up the federation and the attorney general, are all members of the Council.

The meeting on Friday is a hybrid one, with some participants physically present at the State House in Abuja and others participating remotely. Yakubu Gowon, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Goodluck Jonathan are the past presidents of Nigeria who are physically present.

Olusegun Obasanjo, a former president, joined online.

Others who joined online are Sokoto governor and chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Aminu Tambuwal, Kebbi State Governor and Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum, Abubakar Bagudu, Plateau governor and chairman Northern Governors Forum, Simon Lalong, Ebonyi Governor David Umahi, Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello, Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke, Jigawa Governor Abubakar Badaru, and Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun.

Benson Abounu, the deputy governor of Benue State, Emmanuel Akabe, the deputy governor of Nasarawa, and the deputy governor of Enugu are the others.

Alfa Belgore and Mahmud Muhammad, two former Chief Justices of the Federation, also join electronically.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, House Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, Attorney General Abubakar Malami, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, and Head of Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan are all present physically at the meeting.

Kaduna’s Nasir El-Rufai and Lagos’ Babajide Sanwolu, both governors Governors Dairu Isiaku of Taraba, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, Babagana Zulum of Borno, Inuawa Yahaya of Gombe, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak of Kwara, and Baba Talla, deputy governor of Bauchi, are present at the Council of State meeting, which is presided over by President Buhari.

Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Alkali Baba, Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Hammed Audi, and Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria among the people who are anticipated to inform the council.