By Abimbola Ogunnaike
The Council of State has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to print more redesigned naira notes or allow the new and old banknotes to circulate concurrently to ease the tension caused by the scarcity of cash, just as the Council approved the naira redesign policy of the CBN but faulted its implementation.
Briefing State House Correspondents after the Council meeting chaired by the President, the Attorney General of the Federal, Abubakar Malami, who was flanked by Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, said that the Council agreed on the need for aggressive action by the CBN to ensure adequate supply of the naira in the system for proper implementation of the policy.
In tandem with the submissions by the Council, Governor Ishaku stated that it proffered a number of suggestions to the President, particularly on the currency swap challenge which dominated discussions, following a debriefing from the CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, and expressed the hope Buhari will make a decision soon.
On the 2023 elections, Malami also expressed the Council’s satisfaction with the level of preparation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other institutions.
Those who attended the Council meeting chaired by the President include the former Presidents: Goodluck Jonathan; Yakubu Gowon; and Abdulsalami Abubakar as well as ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo who attended virtually.
Also present at the Chamber were: the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Governors in attendance were: Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna; Darius Ishaku, Taraba; Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos; and Babagana Zulum, Borno.
Other Governors that virtually attended were: Ademola Adeleke, Osun; Abubakar Badaru, Jigawa; Yahaya Bello, Kogi; Atiku Bagudu, Kebbi; Dapo Abiodun, Ogun; Aminu Tambuwal, Sokoto; Simon Lalong, Plateau; and the Deputy Governors of Nasarawa and Bauchi states.
