Again, Osinbajo presides over FEC meeting

Minister/Mohammed keeps mum on Buhari’s return

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, for the second time, presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

Although President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to return to Abuja this week from the United Kingdom where he is for medical checks, the Minister of Information Lai Mohammed was silent on the date of his return.

The session observed a minute silence in honour of former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mahmud Tukur. Permanent Secretary, Ecological Funds Office, Mrs. Habiba Lawal, standing in for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, said Tukur died on Friday in Abuja at 82 years of age. Tukur served as minister during Buhari’s military regime in the early 1980s.

The 41st virtual FEC meeting had four ministers physically present in the Executive Council Chambers of the State House.

MEANWHILE, the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.) are in attendance.

The ministers that attended in person include Abubakar Malami (Justice), Lai Mohammed (Information and Culture), Zainab Ahmed (Finance, Budget and National Planning) and Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba (Education 2).

The Head of Civil of the Federation (HoSF), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, and other members of council joined the meeting virtually. Osinbajo and other government officials were not categorical on the actual date Buhari would return.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, had stated, penultimate Monday, that Buhari was due back in the country in the second week of April.

However, the Minister of Information was not forthcoming while fielding a question to confirm when the president would be back to the country.

Shrugging a response, he retorted: “Today (yesterday) is Wednesday. This week finishes on Saturday. So, what’s the big issue in that one?”

According to him, the government is more concerned with the issue of the dwindling security in the country. On the 7th anniversary of the Chibok girls’ abduction, Mohammed maintained that the Federal Government had demonstrated concern on the issue of security in the nation and this, he noted, was demonstrated through a town hall meeting held in Kaduna less than a week ago.