Buhari chairs the National Council of State meeting to address the current challenges trailing the naira redesign, fuel scarcity and preparations for the oncoming general elections
By Emma Ogbuehi
Towards addressing the challenges trailing the Naira redesign, currency swap, lingering fuel scarcity in the country and preparations for the oncoming polls, President Muhammmadu Buhari on Friday chaired the National Council of State meeting in Abuja.
In attendance were the former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan; Yakubu Gowon, and Abdulsalami Abubakar as well as ex-President, Olusegun Obasanjo who attended virtually.
Also present at the chamber is the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
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Governors in attendance are Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), and Babagana Zulum (Borno). Other governors that joined virtually were Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Simon Lalong (Plateau) and the Deputy Governors of Enugu state, Nasarawa state and Bauchi state.
The Minister of the FCT, Mohammed Bello; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele also attended the meeting.
The INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu is also physically in attendance and is expected to brief the council on the preparations ahead of the 2023 elections.
All the Service Chiefs and Heads of security agencies were also physically present. Also present and awaiting their turn to brief the Council are: the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Alkali Baba and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele, on the preparation for the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections as well as March 11 Governorship and Assembly polls and new Naira notes respectively.
The National Council of State is an organ of the Federal government whose functions include advising the executive on policy making.
Membership of the Council comprises the President, Vice President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, former Presidents, former Heads of State, former Chief Justices of Nigeria, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Governors of the 36 States and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The outcome of the meeting may go a long way in addressing the naughty issues in the land, including the lingering fuel scarcity and currency swap that has left Nigerians scrambling for money.