Tinubu presides as Jonathan, Buhari physically attend Council of State meeting

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Muhammadu Buhari are the two living former leaders of the country physically attending the inaugural Council of State meeting currently underway at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting of the former leaders is the first under the current administration, convened by President Bola Tinubu at the State House Council Chambers.

Former Heads of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd) and Abdulsalami Abubakar, joined the meeting virtually alongside the governors of Abia, Adamawa and Akwa Ibom states during the brief opening ceremony, where both the national anthem and the national pledge were sung and recited, respectively.

The council comprises the president as chairman, the vice president as deputy chairman, all living former Heads of State and Presidents, all former Chief Justices of Nigeria, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, all state governors, and the Attorney-General of the Federation as members.

The Council of State is an organ of the federal government responsible for advising the executive on policy-making.

The meeting, which began at 12:35 p.m., is expected to address pressing national issues, including food security, national security, and economic policies.

The last Council of State meeting was held on February 10, 2023, under former President Buhari. At that time, Buhari had convened the meeting over the 2023 elections, the crisis emanating from the new naira policy and fuel scarcity.

Details later…