President Buhari presiding over the Valedictory Meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), at the State House, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday presided over the last session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of his first tenure, as the outgoing ministers recollected their memorable moments with the him.
They also seized the moment to give their scorecards, while showing their gratitude to the president who gave them the opportunities to serve.
The meeting commenced at exactly 11:00 a.m. at the Presidential Villa, Abuja came a few days to the inauguration of President Buhari on May 29 for another four-year term.
Although the entire session yesterday was expected to be valedictory, the FEC went behind closed doors shortly after the arrival of Buhari. Virtually all the cabinet members were in attendance.
The president later invited Ministers of Environment, Suleiman Hassan and Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru Usani, to say the opening prayers, after which journalists were directed to leave the venue and as the meeting went into the closed-door session.
The valedictory session notwithstanding, President Buhari, after eulogising the ministers at the meeting, directed them to return to their offices and continue to work until Tuesday next week. He further directed them to hand over to the permanent secretaries in their ministries on May 28.
He instructed the ministers to forward their handover letters to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) before leaving office.
“Although today is the last Federal Executive Council meeting, I expect all of you to continue working until Tuesday May, 28, when you will officially hand over to your respective permanent secretaries. Your handover notes should be submitted to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,” he said.
President Buhari had earlier paid glowing tributes to a cabinet member, James Ocholi, who, with his wife, Blessing, and son, Joshua died in an accident only four months after being sworn in as a minister.
“Today’s FEC meeting is the last time we will meet as a cabinet before the commencement of the second and final term of this administration.
“Our first meeting in this chamber was in November 2015. Over the past three and a half years, we worked together to deliver our campaign promises. I strongly believe that it is this teamwork that led to the successes recorded during our first term.
“Some of our colleagues, with whom we started this journey, unfortunately are not here to join us in celebrating our successes,” Buhari noted.
The Guardian
