President Buhari goes to UK on private visit; Dissolves Cabinet May 22

President Muhammadu Buhari will be proceeding to the United Kingdom on a private visit after his official visit to Borno State Thursday.

A statement by Femi Adesina, his Special Adviser (Media & Publicity) said that the President is expected to return to Nigeria on May 5, 2019.

There are speculations that he will use the time abroad to put finishing touches to the list of his new cabinet members which is expected to be announced soon after his swearing in, unlike what happened when he came into office in 2015.

Already, there is intense jostling among key party chiefs and the current ministers concerning who should and who should not be on the list, which sources say the President and a hand full of his trusted aides are tinkering with and keeping close to their chests.

Sources also said that the President would use the opportunity of the 10 day trip to see his doctors, in readiness for the swearing in ceremonies and the other tasks ahead.

Meanwhile, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) will not be dissolved this week or soon as is being speculated. He said, instead, that the cabinet will hold its valedictory session on May 22.

The minister made this disclosure while fielding questions from State House Correspondents at the end of the Council meeting which was presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.

Mohammed dismissed the speculation that the Council would be dissolved this week.

He said: The cabinet is still intact. We are going to have a valedictory service on May 22.

“So, you still need to suffer us much; you will still see more of my face. Thank you very much.’’

President Buhari had on April 17 asked for comprehensive “status reports on policies, programmes and projects” from cabinet members on their respective ministries, departments and agencies.

The deadline for submission of the reports to the Presidential Audit Committee in the office of the Vice President was April 24.

The 9th and 10^th FEC meetings were rescheduled for April 25 and May 2 respectively in view of the Easter break and May Day celebrations.

All ministers were directed to “ensure that all outstanding memoranda they intend to present to FEC are submitted to the Cabinet Affairs Office, in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, not later than April 30.”