A meeting of the Council of State presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari has commenced at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Top on the agenda is the 2023 general election and the naira notes scarcity occasioned by Central Bank of Nigeria’s naira redesign and cashless policy.

In attendance are Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Heads of State, retired Gens. Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalami Abubakar as well as former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, are also in attendance.

Governors of Lagos, Kaduna, and Gombe states and those of Taraba, Kwara, and Borno are also in attendance alongside the deputy governor of Bauchi State.

READ ALSO: Buhari sacks NSITF MD for NYSC certificate forgery, low productivity

Other governors joined the Council of State meeting online from their respective states.

Others attending the meeting are former Chief Justices of Nigeria, Alfa Belgore and Mahmood Muhammad, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and the Head of Service, Folashade Yemi-Esan.

INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, and the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi, are expected to address the meeting.

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, is also expected to brief the Council on the bank’s activities regarding the currency redesign and cashless policy.

The Council of State advises the Federal Government on policy issues.

The President, Vice President, Governors, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, former Presidents, former Heads of State, former Chief Justices of Nigeria, Senate President, and Speaker of the House of Representatives are members.

The Attorney-General of the Federation is also a member.

The Star