Goodluck Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari attend Council of State meeting in Aso Rock

Former presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari are present in person at the Presidential Villa in Abuja for President Bola Tinubu’s inaugural Council of State meeting.

However, the governors of the states of Abia, Adamawa, and Akwa Ibom virtually attended the conference alongside two former heads of state: Generals Yakubu Gowon (retd) and Abdulsalami Abubakar.

The living former heads of state and presidents, all former Chief Justices of Nigeria, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, all state governors, and the Attorney-General of the Federation are members of the council, which is chaired by the President and deputy-chaired by the Vice President.

The Council of State is an organ of the federal government saddled with the responsibility of advising the executive on policymaking.

The meeting which began at 12:35 pm, is expected to address pressing national issues, including food security, national security, and economic policies.

The last Council of State meeting was held on February 10, 2023, under former President Buhari.