Monday, December 23

Jonathan Cancels Executive Council Meeting in Deference to Muslims

The statutory Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting which normally holds every Wednesday did not sit today.

Presidential Spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati explained the unusual cancellation in the context of need to respect the religious rights of some of the cabinet members who are moslems.

The weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting was suspended because some Muslim cabinet members have travelled to their home states for the Eid-el-Fitri.

Dr. Abati, told State House correspondents on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to Abati, some other council members are also taking part in the lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia. (Umrah)

He said it is part of the cabinet members’ constitutional rights to carry out their religious obligations.

The meeting, which holds on Wednesdays, is normally presided over by the President or the Vice- President.

However, President Goodluck Jonathan reassured Nigerians of his commitment to overcoming all distractions and delivering on his promise of good governance and national transformation.

The president gave the assurance in his Eid-el-Fitri message to the nation to congratulate Nigerians of the Islamic faith who were about to successfully complete the month-long Ramadan fast.

He assured that his administration would continue working tirelessly to build on the firm foundations for sustainable national development which it had already established in key areas.

He listed the key areas to include:  public infrastructure, power supply, roads, transportation, aviation, agriculture, education, healthcare, youth employment and electoral reform.

President Jonathan also urged other elected officials at all levels of governance to avoid overheating the polity with unnecessary ethnic and political intrigues.

He urged them to give the highest priority to fulfilling their promises of better living conditions for the electorate first, before turning their minds to plans and permutations for future elections.

The President urged Nigerians to continue to support the present administration in every way possible to ensure that the country continued to make steady progress.

Jonathan thanked Muslims in the country who responded to calls by him and other leaders for special prayers during the Ramadan for greater  peace, security and progress in Nigeria.

He wished all Nigerians happy Eid-el-Fitri celebrations.

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