Shagari, IBB, Jonathan, Shonekan absent at Council of State

The third Council of State meeting in the life of the present administration is ongoing at the Presidential Villa, Abuja with notable absentees including former Presidents Shehu Shagari, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Goodluck Jonathan and former Head of Interim National Government, Ernest Shonekan.

The meeting is presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, however, has in attendance Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and three other former Heads of State including Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Former Chief Justices of Nigeria present at the meeting are Mohammed Uwais, Idris Kutigi, Alfa Belgore and Aloma Mukhtar.

Officials from Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) led by the chairman, Professor Mahmud Yakubu and the Central Bank of Nigeria led by the governor, Godwin Emefiele, were invited to brief the council on some issues.

Governors present are those of Sokoto, Delta, Adamawa, Imo, Benue, Lagos, Nasarawa, Abia, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kebbi, Plateau, Kano, Wike, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Ekiti, Kogi, Zamfara, Osun, Ogun, Niger, and Ebonyi.

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Bayelsa and Enugu states governors are represented by their deputies.

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami was also in attendance.

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

Its duties include advising the president in the exercise of his powers with respect to the National population census and compilation, publication, and keeping of records and other information concerning the same; prerogative of mercy; award of national honours; the Independent National Electoral Commission (including the appointment of members of that Commission); the National Judicial Council (including the appointment of the members, other than ex-officio members of that Council); the National Population Commission (including the appointment of members of that Commission).

The council also advises the president whenever requested to do so on the maintenance of public order and on such other matters as he may direct.