2023 elections, Security, currency redesign policy: Council of State meets as Buhari presides

● Obasanjo joins meeting virtually

● Gowon, Abdulsalami, Jonathan physically present

The Council of State meeting has begun in the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja with President Muhammadu Buhari presiding.

The meeting, as reported by THE CONCLAVE, four days ago, is discussing the state of preparedness for the forthcoming general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC; the security situation; and, the implementation of the currency redesign policy.

As reported by THE CONCLAVE, briefs on the preparedness for the polls and security situation had been sent to the Council already by the INEC chair, Professor Mahmood Yakubu and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, respectively. They will speak to the briefs and give clarifications where and when necessary

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele, will give the Council updates on the implementation of the currency redesign policy.

The hybrid meeting started at 10:12am with the rendition of the national anthem.

Former Heads of State and Presidents in attendance are General Yakubu Gowon (Retd); Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (Retd) and Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has joined the crucial meeting virtually.

Other members of the Council of State
who joined virtually include Sokoto state governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Aminu Tambuwal; Kebbi State Governor and Chairman of Progressives Governors Forum, Abubakar Bagudu and Plateau state governor and Chairman of Northern Governors Forum, Simon Lalong.

Others are Governors of Ebonyi, David Umahi; Kogi, Yahaya Bello; Osun, Ademola Adeleke; Jigawa, Abubakar Badaru, and Ogun, Dapo Abiodun.

Also in attendance are Benue State Deputy governor Benson Abounu; Deputy governor of Nasarawa, Emmanuel Akabe, and Enugu Deputy Governor.

Two former Chief Justice of the Federation, Alfa Belgore and Mahmud Muhammad, were in attendance.

Others physically attending 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.

Governors physically attending are: Taraba, Dairu Isiaku! Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai,Borno, Babagana Zulum, Gombe, Inuawa Yahaya, Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Kwara, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak and Deputy Governor Bauchi, Baba Talla.

The National Council of State is an organ of the Nigerian 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 of the federation and the Attorney General of the Federation.