The meeting however suggested that stakeholders, particularly the Central Bank of Nigeria and state governors should do all within their powers to ameliorate the situation on the ground.
The meeting had the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and General Yakubu Gowon in attendance physically.
They, also advised Buhari to consider making the old naira notes available in the interim, especially if the Central Bank of Nigeria, which is the policy implementer cannot readily make the new naira notes available to the citizens.
Taraba State Governor, Daruis Ishaku, his counterpart, the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu including the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami took turns to reveal part of what transpired at the meeting.
Ishaku said the Council of State members made it clear that the policy is accepted and has come to stay but that the resistance of the populace to its introduction was also not misplaced.
According to Ishaku, the Council acknowledged that it was normal that at the beginning of any policy, people show resistance even though it may turn out well.
He said the Council which only plays an advisory role observed that the problem with the policy was that of implementation, considering the fact that the majority of Nigerians are subjected to suffering on account of its scarcity.
Asked what was the major position of the President, who is at the centre of the policy, the Taraba governor said the President directed state governments to go to their respective states to proffer solutions, by way of ensuring that they help to ease the tensions being experienced in the country.
On the level of preparations for the general elections set to kick off February 25th and March 11th respectively. The AGF, Malami said the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu gave enough assurance that nothing can hinder the Commission from going ahead with the elections.
He said the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba equally gave assurance that his men and officers were ready to support the Commission to see that the polls go hitch-free.
The position of the Federal Government was also corroborated by Governor Sanwo-Olu who said that the policy stands but that the Council agreed that there was a need for aggressive action with regard to the provision of the new currency.
The meeting which ended a few minutes before 2 pm had former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, joining online.
Others who joined online are Sokoto governor and chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Aminu Tambuwal, Kebbi State Governor and Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum, Abubakar Bagudu, Plateau governor and chairman of Northern Governors Forum, Simon Lalong, Ebonyi, David Umahi, Kogi, Yahaya Bello Osun, Ademola Adeleke, Jigawa, Abubakar Badaru, and Ogun, Dapo Abiodun.
Others are Benue State Deputy Governor Benson Abounu, Deputy governor of Nasarawa, Emmanuel Akabe, and Enugu Deputy governor.
Two former Chief Justice of the Federation, Alfa Belgore and Mahmud Muhammad, were in attendance.
Those physically attending the meeting were Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Attorney General, Minister of Justice, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and Head of Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan.
The governors who attended physically are Taraba, Dairu Isiaku! Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai,Borno, Babagana Zulum, Gombe, Inuawa Yahaya, Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Kwara, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak and Deputy Governor Bauchi, Baba Talla.
The National Council of State is an organ of the Nigerian government whose functions include advising the executive on policy making.
Membership of the Council comprises the President, Vice President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, former presidents, former heads of state, former chief justices of Nigeria, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, governors of the 36 states of the federation and the Attorney General of the Federation.
Also present and awaiting their turn to brief the council are, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alkali Baba, Commandant General, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Hammed Audi and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele on the preparation for the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections as well as March 11 governorship and state houses of assembly polls and new Naira notes respectively.
