By Seyi Babalola
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which is generally presided over by President Bola Tinubu and is intended to discuss vital national concerns, has been rescheduled for Tuesday.
The meeting, which began at noon on Monday, was extended until Tuesday to allow cabinet members to complete deliberations on outstanding documents.
Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, told reporters that “there are a lot of far-reaching decisions being taken, and we will continue tomorrow (Tuesday)”.
The minister did not give further details.
But sources within the Presidency revealed that about 40 memos were presented before Council but the cabinet could not take them all, hence the decision to reconvene tomorrow to exhaust the pile.
Monday’s FEC had Vice President, Kashim Shettima; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan in attendance.
All the ministers were present at the resumed Council meeting which last held on March 25, 2024.
At the commencement of the meeting on Monday, the cabinet presided over by President Bola Tinubu had observed a minute silence in honour of two late former ministers, one-time Minister of Education, Professor Fabian Osuji, and former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, before going into closed door session.
Osuji, who died at the age of 82 in February, served as Minister of Education during the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, where he played a key role in initiating policies that impacted positively in the sector.
Onu, who died at the age of 72, was appointed Minister of Science and Technology during the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Tinubualso swore-in two additional Federal Commissioners of the National Population Commission (NPC), at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.
The ceremony which held just before the commencement of the fifth Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of 2024, had Fasuwa Johnson Johnson (Ogun State) and Amidu Tadese Raheem (Osun State) sworn in.
Their swearing-in came weeks after 17 of their colleagues took their Oath of Office in March.
This is not the first time FEC will be adjourning its meetings, it was a regular feature during the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.
