Why Buhari Was Absent At Friday’s Emergency FEC Meeting – Presidency

Despite being at the State House where the meeting was held, President Muhammadu Buhari did not show up for the emergency Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting convened yesterday to scrutinise details of the 2016 Appropriation Bill sent to him by the National Assembly.

The extra-ordinary meeting, which was presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, was attended by cabinet members, heads of ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, as well as some presidential aides.

Revealing why his principal did not show up for the meeting, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, told Daily Trust that there was no need for him to be there, adding that there was likely to be more of such meetings.

Speaking yesterday, Shehu told the newspaper that “there was no need for him to be present to study the budget details. The meeting didn’t require the president’s presence.

“It (the extraordinary budget meeting) is ongoing. We might even have other meetings of this.”

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed had told State House correspondents after the meeting that it was convened to give ministers the opportunity to look at the budget details and how their respective ministries were affected.