Again, Buhari absent at FEC meeting, as Osinbajo takes charge

President Muhammadu Buhari was again absent from the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting which held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

However, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo presided over the meeting, which failed to hold last week.

This is the second time Vice president Osinbajo will be presiding over the meeting since President Buhari returned from his medical vacation in London, United Kingdom (UK).‎

FEC, as constituted, is usually presided over by the President and has the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the National Security Adviser (NSA), Head of Service of the Federation (HoCSF) and the cabinet ministers as members.

Only a handful of ministers assembled in the Council Chambers venue of the weekly meeting on Wednesday and waited along with the Vice-President for President Buhari.

A security officer was seen standing behind the President’s exalted seat but vacated the area a few minutes later when it became apparent that President Buhari would not be presiding.

At exactly 11 am when the meeting ought to begin and the President had still not shown up, Vice president ‎Osinbajo called for the National anthem to be sung. This was followed by prayers and thereafter, he took charge of proceedings.

Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu told State House Correspondents that the meeting did not hold last week because FEC Secretariat staff had no opportunity to circulate relevant memos to members owing to the Easter holiday.

‎Three weeks ago, Vice President Osinbajo presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting because President Mohammadu Buhari was engaged with other pressing state issues at his official residence.

Addressing State House Correspondents after the meeting, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed explained that it is not unusual for the Vice President to preside over the council.