•••Former Leaders, Gowon, Abdulsalami, Jonathan In Attendance
••• Obasanjo, Tambuwal Lalong, Bagudu, others Participate Online
James Harrison, Abuja
The National Council of State meeting has commenced at the Presidential villa, Abuja with President Muhammadu Buhari presiding.
The meeting was called to discuss the
National crises which include the current petrol and Naira scarcity, insecurity, and others ahead of the general elections.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, is expected to give update to the Council on the preparations of his Commission, ahead of the 2023 elections.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alkali Baba, Commandant General, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Hammed Audi and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele are also expected to brief the council.
Three former leaders, Gen Yakubu Gowon, Gen Abubakar Abdusalami and former President Goodluck Jonathan are in attendance at the meeting which started around 10:12 am at the Council Chambers.
Also former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Sokoto State 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, David Umahi, Kogi, Yahaya Bello, Osun Governor, Ademola Adeleke, Jigawa,Abubakar Badaru, and Ogun, Dapo Abiodun are attending the meeting virtually.
The list of those attending virtually also includes Benue State Deputy governor benson Abounu, Deputy governor of Nasarawa, Emmanuel Akabe, Enugu Deputy governor, two former Chief Justices of the Federation, Alfa Belgore and Mahmud Muhammad.
Physically present at the meeting are
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan
Speaker of the House of Representative, Femi Gbajabiamila, Attorney General, Minister of Justice, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and Head of Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan.
Also the Governors of Taraba State Governor, Dairu Isiaku, Kaduna State Nasir El-Rufai, Borno, Babagana Zulum, Gombe, Inuawa Yahaya, Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Kwara, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak and Deputy Governor Bauchi, Baba Talla.
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.
All the Service Chiefs and Heads of security agencies were also in attendance.
The National Council of State is the organ of the Nigerian government with powers to advise 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 of the federation and the Attorney General of the Federation.
