*demands aggressive implementation
*okays INEC’s plans for polls
By Chesa Chesa
The National Council of State at its meeting on Friday chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari has endorsed the new naira notes policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The Council, also comprising former Heads of State and Presidents, and State Governors, among others, however, advised the CBN to be more aggressive in implementing the policy by making more of the new Naira notes available or if it cannot, it should recirculate old Naira notes to ease the current suffering of Nigerians struggling to lay their hands on any money at all.
Governors of Taraba, Darius Ishaku; Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and the Attorney-General of the Federation/Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, briefed the press after the meeting, saying that the Council also expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for this year’s general elections.
According to Malami: “The two major resolutions arising from the deliberations of the Council are 1; that we are on course as far as election is concerned, and we are happy with the level of preparation by INEC and the institutions.
“2; relating to the Naira redesign policy, the policy stands. But then the Council agreed that there is need for aggressive action on the part of the CBN as it relates to the implementation of the policy by way of ensuring adequate provision being made with particular regard to the supply of the Naira in the system.”
Asked the position of the Council on the Supreme Court ruling extending the CBN deadline on use of the old notes, Malami said he or the Council would not publicly make a pronouncement on that because the matter is still under litigation, so ‘sub judice’
Ishaku said: “The CBN was advised to make money available in quantum. The old money can also be recirculated to ease the suffering of the poorest of the poor.”
Sanwo-Olu, added that the Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, and Inspector-General of Police (IGP), briefed the Council on a state of preparedness for the 2023 general elections, and assured that they were fully prepared.”
Former heads of state and president in attendance at the meeting which held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, are Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and Goodluck Jonathan.
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, joined online, as well as Sokoto governor and chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Aminu Tambuwal; Kebbi State Governor and chairman of Progressive Governors Forum, Abubakar Bagudu; Plateau governor and chairman Northern Governors Forum, Simon Lalong.
There were also Governors of Ebonyi, David Umahi; Kogi, Yahaya Bello; Osun, Ademola Adeleke; Jigawa, Abubakar Badaru; and Ogun, Dapo Abiodun.
Others were Benue State Deputy governor, Benson Abounu; Deputy governor of Nasarawa, Emmanuel Akabe; and Enugu Deputy governor.
Two former Chief Justices of the Federation, Alfa Belgore and Mahmud Muhammad, were in attendance.
Those who physically attended the meeting were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Attorney General, Minister of Justice; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and Head of Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan.
Governors who also physically attended included: Taraba, Dairu Isiaku; Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai; Borno, Babagana Zulum; Gombe, Inuawa Yahaya; Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Kwara, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak and Deputy Governor of Bauchi, Baba Talla.
The National Council of State is an organ of the Nigerian government whose functions include advising the executive on policy making. It is the highest advisory body to the President.
Membership of the Council comprises the President, Vice President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, former presidents, former heads of state, former Chief Justices of Nigeria, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Governors of the 36 states of the federation and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
