The Federal Government is set to establish a national centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
The approval for the establishment of the agency is part of the decisions taken at the Council of State meeting in Abuja yesterday.
National Security Adviser (NSA) Gen. Babagana Monguno, who briefed journalists said the new agency will be domiciled in his office.
“I briefed Council on the efforts of the Federal Government to deal with these challenges. One of these issues is the need to address manpower deficiency, inadequacy in equipment and technology challenges.
“Mr President has already approved the continued recruitment into the armed forces as well as the police, to deal with this gap in manpower so that it can afford the security agencies the enabling environment to be able to take troops in theatre.”
The Council also ratified the Presidential Pardon granted to former governor of Bendel State, Prof. Ambrose Ali; Col. Moses Effiong; Maj. E.J Olarenwaju; and Ajayi Olusola Babalola.
Prof. Ali was jailed in 1985 on the allegation of misappropriating N983,000.
Col. Efiong was convicted for his role in an attempted coup against Military President Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said the ratification followed his presentation of a memo to the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy.
According to him, “the memo presented for consultation in line with one of the constitutional requirements and consideration of grant of pardon to 45 persons, two inmates for pardon, 39 inmates for clemency and four ex-convict for presidential pardon”.
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Malami said the Council of State also approved the appointment of two new legal practitioners as members of Federal Judicial Service Commission.
“Namoso Ekanem (SAN), from Akwa Ibom State representing the Southsouth geo-political zone and Mammud Abubakar Mogaji (SAN) from Niger State are to represent the North Central geo-political zone”, he said.
The Council also ratified the appointment of former deputy governor of Nasarawa State, Nasiru Isa Kwara, as the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC).
Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, said “members of the Commission approved are: Muhammed Chuso A. Dottijo, (Sokoto); Alhaji Razaq Gidado, (Kwara); Ibrahim Mohammed, (Bauchi); Joseph Kwai Shazin, (FCT); Engineer Bala Almu Banya, (Katsina); and Mrs Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, (Lagos).
Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, who was represented by the Director-General of the Budget Office,
Mr. Ben Akabueze said he briefed the Council on the trouble facing the economy, arising from drop in crude oil price and the COVID-19 pandemic.
He alerted that Q3 performance will be negative and the economy is expected fall into recession.
Buhari was joined in virtual council physically by his immediate predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
All other living past Nigerian leaders, except President Olusegun Obasanjo, joined the meeting online.
Also present was the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Ononghen, and all other living former CJNs, among other members of the council.
All the 36 state governors, with the exception of the those of Zamfara and Delta, also participated. The SGF said the two absent governors gave reasons to be excused. He, however, said there was yet to be any communication from Chief Obasanjo for not joining the meeting.
