Presidential Source Gives Reason Tinubu Is Yet To Convene FEC Meeting

Following President Bola Tinubu‘s failure to convene a Federal Executive Council meeting since his inauguration, several speculations have emerged on reasons why he has not been able to hold FEC meetings.

Earlier, Naija News reported that the FEC, which is chaired by the President, is the executive cabinet that determines the policies and programmes of the Federal Government and serves as an advisory body to the Nigerian leader.

President Tinubu had, on August 21, sworn in and inaugurated 45 ministers who attended the maiden cabinet meeting at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on August 28.

However, the president was out of the country for 20 days in September alone, where he spent eight days attending the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India and held bilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Also in September, President Tinubu was away for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, the United States, and other outings for twelve days.

During the period, Vice President Kashim Shettima, who could have presided over FEC meetings, was in Havana, where he represented the president at the G77+China Leaders’ Summit from September 15 to 17.

President Tinubu returned to Abuja on September 29, ahead of the 63rd Independence Anniversary and has not presided over any FEC meeting.

Meanwhile, the three ministers recently confirmed by the Senate – Balarabe Abbas Lawal (Kaduna), Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Kwara) and Ayodele Olawande (Ondo) have not been sworn in.

However, while some sources say the FEC meeting was being put on hold owing to a ministerial retreat which has not yet taken place, speculation has also emerged that the meeting was not held because of the President’s ill health.

According to SaharaReporters, a top presidential source has disclosed that the president has allegedly not been in good health since his return from the 78th UNGA.

According to the source, it was due to his alleged ill health that no official welcome ceremony was held when the president returned from New York last month.

The source said the president’s car had to be parked closely to the aircraft to convey him home when he arrived back home from New York.

“Tinubu has not been having FEC meetings. Even when arrived from his trip to New York, United States, for UNGA, there was no airport ceremony to welcome him.

“His car had to be driven to where he would alight the plane from the stairs because he was sick,” the Presidency source said.