JUST IN: President Tinubu chairs Council of State’s Meeting at Presidential Villa

Kunle Sanni

President Bola Tinubu is currently presiding over the Council of State meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The meeting, held in the Council Chambers, includes the governors of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Notably, former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan are attending the meeting in person, while former Heads of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar and General Yakubu Gowon are participating virtually.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, are absent from the meeting.

The Council of State is a constitutional body tasked with advising the President on key national matters. Its responsibilities include providing counsel on the national population census, prerogative of mercy, awarding national honors, and appointments to critical bodies such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the National Judicial Council (NJC), and the National Population Commission (NPC).

Additionally, the Council offers guidance to the President on maintaining public order and other significant national issues as requested. In the past, it has played crucial roles during challenging periods, including the COVID-19 pandemic and times of economic difficulty in Nigeria.