IBB, Obasanjo, Jonathan, Shagari, Abdulsalam, Shonekan, others to meet with Buhari next week in Abuja

The Council of State is scheduled to meet in Abuja Thursday next week to discuss key appointments proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari, it was learnt yesterday.

The council is expected to consider names of nominees to fill vacant positions of National and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC currently has six national commissioners out of 12, while 21 out of 37 Resident Electoral Commissioners are yet to be appointed.

A top Presidency source confirmed to our correspondent last night that the meeting will hold inside the Council Chambers of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa at 11:00am. 

Another Presidency source, who also preferred not to be mentioned, equally confirmed that the meeting would hold next week.

He also hinted that “pending issues” relating to the appointment of top officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be discussed.    

It was gathered that President Buhari would brief the council on the nomination of Ibrahim Idris as acting Inspector-General of Police. The Nigerian Police Council (NPC) is expected to ratify the appointment thereafter.

The Nigerian Council of State is an organ of the Nigerian government whose functions include advising the executive on policy making.

The council comprises the president as chairman; vice president (deputy chairman); all former presidents 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; state governors and Attorney-General of the Federation. 

The responsibilities of the council include advising the president in the exercise of his powers with respect to the appointments of  INEC commissioners, members of the National Population Commission, the National Judicial Council, prerogative of mercy and award of national honours; 

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

The meeting of the council is coming at a time of concerns in various quarters that vacancies at the INEC would pose a threat to the 2019 general elections.

Source: Daily Trust