The 20th meeting of the Federal Executive Council is currently being chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.
This particular meeting, which is taking place on a Thursday, started at 01:13 pm when Tinubu arrived, following a prior hour-long discussion with a South-South delegation.
Previously, council meetings were held on Mondays and Wednesdays, making this Thursday gathering a deviation from the norm.
Notably, this meeting marks Tinubu’s first since the passing of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja.
Last week’s meeting, which was originally set for November 6, was rescheduled due to the Army Chief’s demise, as announced by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
At the onset of the meeting, representatives from the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning were seen preparing for a presentation to the Council, likely in anticipation of Tinubu’s 2025 budget proposal.
Present at the meeting are Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, is being represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Affairs Office, Dr. Emanso Okop.
However, Minister of Environment, Abbas Lawal, and other council members are currently absent as they are attending the 2024 UN Climate Change Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan.