President Goodluck Jonathan
President
Goodluck Jonathan will on Wednesday (today) preside over the Federal
Executive Council meeting for the last time as the country’s President.
The council consisting of the President
(as chairman), Vice President, Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, ministers, special advisers to the President, Head of Civil
Service of the Federation and the National Security Adviser is the
highest decision-making body in the country.
Members meet every Wednesday (except occasionally when meetings are postponed) to approve contracts and government policies.
Since Jonathan will be handing over to
Muhammadu Buhari as the country’s new President on Friday, this is the
last time he would be chairing the meeting.
He
is expected to use the opportunity of the valedictory session to thank
council members for their supports while his administration lasted.
Although there were speculations on
Tuesday evening that Jonathan might thereafter dissolve his cabinet, our
correspondent learnt that he might not do so.
A top government official said the
President might delay such proclamation till Thursday or be silent about
it and allow the tenure of the ministers to expire naturally with him.
The official said dissolution of cabinet
on Wednesday might stop outgoing officials who are members of the
presidential inauguration committee from continuing to render their
services as they could not be doing so in their personal capacities.
The SGF, Senator Pius Anyim, co-chairs
the inauguration committee with a former Bayelsa State Governor,
Timipreye Sylvia, of the All Progressives Congress.
Ministers such as Senator Bala Muhammed
(Federal Capital Territory); Dr. Akon Eyakenyi (Land, Housing and Urban
Development); Mr. Abba Moro (Interior); Mr. Osita Chidoka (Aviation);
Chief Edem Duke (Culture and Tourism); and Col. Austin Akobundu (retd.)
(State, Defence) are also members of the inauguration committee.
Coming barely 48 hours to the end of
Jonathan’s administration, however, members of the council may not take
any important decision at the Wednesday meeting.
Members might be given opportunities to
speak on their experiences and thank the President for the opportunity
given them to serve.
No comments:
Post a Comment