From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye., Abuja
president Muhammadu Buhari will today preside over and emergency meeting of the Council of State, to discuss national crises including petrol and naira scarcity, insecurity and others, ahead of the general elections.
The National Council of State is an organ of the Nigerian government whose functions include advising the executive on policy making.
Membership of the Council comprises President Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, former presidents, former heads of state, former chief justices of Nigeria, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, governors of the 36 states of the federation and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
According to sources at the Presidential Villa, the CBN governor is expected to provide update on the new currency redesign policy scheduled to take place at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja, at 10 am.
The Supreme Court in a ruling led by Justice John Okoro temporarily restrained the Federal Government and Areh Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from implementing the February 10 deadline for N200, N500 and N1,000 validity.
Also expected at the meeting is Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu as well as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alkali Baba, will brief the council on the preparation for the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections as well as March 11 governorship and state houses of assembly polls.
Meanwhile, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has said the Council should at its meeting tomorrow look at the merit of holding all the elections in one day in March to avert negative security consequences.
NEF’s Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed who disclosed this yesterday said the group also wants the council to advise President Muhammadu Buhari to review the timelines for ongoing currency exchange.
“I hope they will review the very difficult conditions under which the Nigerian citizen lives today, and advise on measures to relieve the poor, in particular of avoidable hardships. They should look at the merit of holding all the elections in one day in March to avert negative security consequences. The council should advise the president to review the timelines for ongoing currency exchange. It should assure the nation that our democracy is safe and our economic unity is not being threatened,” he said.