UPDATED: Yar’Adua: Executive Council Backs Down On Section 144

San Francisco March 03, (THEWILL) – The Executive Council of the Federation held its weekly meeting today but did not move to implement Section 144 of the 1999 Constitution as expected.

Though information on today's session is still sketchy, THEWILL however gathered that Council members expressed their disappointment with Information Ministers, Professor Dora Akunyili over her weekend outbursts in select Nigerian media on President Yar'Adua and the cabal hiding him.

Also at today's proceedings, the six-man delegation to Saudi Arabia submitted its report to the Council.

THEWILL has also gathered that Prof. Dora Akunyili left Abuja today for New York as part of Nigeria's delegation to the 54th Session of the UN Special Commission on the Status of Women, popularly known as Beijing Plus 15 in progress at the UN Headquarters. A statement from her office said she is expected back next week Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Council also approved the award of contract for the reconstruction of the 35-km Owerri-Elele road linking Imo and Rivers State at a cost of N21.48 billion as part of the post-amnesty programme. Consultancy services for the project were pegged at N469.73 million.

A contract of N1.45 billion, for the rehabilitation of the Dengi-Jarmai road in Plateau state was also approved. Funding for this project would come from Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency and the Ecological Fund.

Another consultancy services contract for the Obiakpo-Obeng gas pipeline was approved in the sum of N236.8 million.