The Federal Government has scheduled the Council of State and Police Council meetings for Thursday, October 9, 2025, to address critical national matters, particularly focusing on security and governance challenges.
In a statement released on Monday, Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, announced that both sessions will take place at the Council Chambers within the Presidential Villa. These meetings will adopt a hybrid format, enabling participants to join either in person or remotely.
This upcoming Council of State meeting marks the second convening since the inauguration of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, following the initial session held in August 2024.
Reliable sources indicate that a key agenda item for the Council of State is the selection of a new chairman for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
It is important to note that the current INEC chairman, Professor Yakubu Mahmud, is set to retire this month after completing two consecutive five-year terms, totaling a decade in office.
Dr. Emanso Okop Umobong, Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Affairs Office under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, highlighted that these meetings will serve as a vital platform for members of both Councils to engage in discussions on urgent national issues, including an assessment of the country’s security landscape and policing framework.
The schedule specifies that the Council of State meeting will commence at 1 p.m., followed by the Police Council session at 2 p.m.
In his statement, Akume emphasized that these gatherings reflect President Tinubu’s dedication to reinforcing governance institutions and fostering cooperative decision-making processes on matters critical to national security and stability.
The Council of State, composed of the President, Vice President, all former Presidents and Heads of State, former Chief Justices of Nigeria, and the governors of the 36 states, functions as an advisory body to the President on policy and governance issues.
Akume further pointed out that the timing of these meetings coincides with intensified government efforts to bolster national security, reform the police force, and improve collaboration between federal and state governments.
He called on all members to ensure their attendance, whether physically or virtually, underscoring the importance of their contributions to ongoing national reforms and the government’s overarching mission to promote peace, unity, and effective governance.
