President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Tuesday August 13, 2024 chair the National Council of State meeting for the first time since he assumed office in May 2023.
The National Council of State consists of the president, who is the chairman; the Vice President, who is the deputy chairman; all former presidents and Heads of State, serving and all former Chief Justices of Nigeria; the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, governors of the 36 states of the federation, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
The National Council of State plays important advice and consent roles in government operations.
The council advises the president on maintaining public order within the country.
The council also advises the president on the national population census and compilation, the prerogative of mercy, the award of national honours, and the appointment of members of the Independent National Electoral Commission, National Judicial Council, and National Population Commission.
The National Council of State was introduced on July 30, 1975, by former Head of State General Murtala Muhammed in a broadcast to the nation after General Yakubu Gowon was deposed.
“The structure of government has been re-organised,” he said.
“There will now be three organs of Government, at the Federal level namely: The Supreme Military Council, The National Council of State, and the Federal Executive Council.”
Tuesday ’s council meeting is expected to address pressing national issues, including national security and economic policies, particularly food security.
The last National Council of State meeting was held on February 10, 2023, under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Buhari convened the meeting to discuss the conduct of the 2023 general elections, fuel scarcity, and the outrage over the new naira notes introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).