A meeting of the National Council of State (NCS) is ongoing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, presided over by President Bola Tinubu.
This is the second meeting of the NCS since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, after the first one was held on August 12 last year.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, are also attending the meeting.
Former Head of State. Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), is attending the national council of state meeting physically, while others joined online.
The NCS is an advisory body recognised by the 1999 Constitution, whose key roles include advising the President on state matters and decisions concerning the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
It is expected that the President may table his nominees for the position of the INEC chairman to the meeting, which is being held behind camera.
The NCS membership includes all former Presidents and former Heads of State, former Chief Justices of Nigeria, Secretary to the government of the Federation (SGF), the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, all 36 state governors, and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Other important issues the meeting will look at include national security challenges like banditry, kidnapping and suggestions on the best way to tackle them.