…passes vote of confidence in Tinubu
…as Nigerians expect far-reaching decisions from meeting
Details are coming in trickles after the National Council of State meeting, Tuesday, which put President Bola Tinubu in counsel with exalted statesmen, including four previous presidents and heads of state.
This is even as Nigerians wait with raised expectations for more details and action from State House Abuja in the coming days, especially with the meeting coming on the heels the recent #EndBadGovernance protest.
Early reports on the outcome of the meeting said the National Council of State insisted that any change in government in Nigeria must follow constitutional procedures. This comes as a response to calls in some quarters, during the protest, for military takeover of government.
The council also passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu over his “achievements” in the last year since he assumed office.
Expectations are high that with such a powerful meeting, some far-reaching decisions will emerge.
The Council of State consists of the President, who is the Chairman, the Vice-President, who is the Deputy Chairman, all former Presidents of the Federation and all former Heads of the Government of the Federation, all former Chief Justices of Nigeria, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, all the governors of the states of the federation, as well as the minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation.
The Council is an organ of the Nigerian Government. Its functions include advising the executive on policy making. The Council has no executive power, however plays an important advice and consent role in government operations.
Tuesday’s meeting was attended physically by former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, while former Heads of State Generals Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalami Abubakar joined virtually.
State governors, some deputy governors, Ministers, former Chief Justices of the Federation, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the National Security Adviser were also in attendance.
Briefing State House Correspondents shortly after the meeting, Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq said the Council commended the President for policy decisions he has taken since assuming office.
He said at a separate executive meeting between the Governors and President Tinubu after the National Council of State meeting, the governors also passed a vote of confidence in the President.
The Council received a report from the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, on the security situation in the country and a preliminary report on the recent protests, he said.
Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, who joined Governor Abdulrasaq to brief State House Correspondents after the council meeting, said the protest was viewed as a disguised attempt at disrupting the activities of the current administration.
Tuesday’s meeting was the first National Council of State meeting since President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
