Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has explained the reason why his Economic Management Team (EMT) was disbanded by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Rumours were rife that President Buhari disbanded the team to drastically reduce the Vice President’s power, in the midst of an alleged rift between the duo.
But reacting, the Vice President said the newly constituted Economic Advisory Council (EAC) was put together by President Buhari to assist him (Osinbajo).
Osinbajo stated this at a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC), yesterday, which he presided over at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as earlier reported by us.
Speaking through the Governor of Gombe State, Osinbajo said the clarification became necessary following a request by the Governors on the relationship between NEC and EAC.
According to the Governor, the Vice President told them that NEC could be briefed regularly on the activities of the EAC, with the president’s permission.
His words: “Governors requested clarification from the council chairman (Osinbajo), on the relationship between the NEC and the newly formed Economic Advisory Council.
“And the vice president explained that the council is advisory for the benefit of Mr President, while the NEC is established by the constitution; they are to complement one another.
“He (Osinbajo) added that NEC could be briefed regularly on the activities of the Economic Advisory Council with the permission of Mr President.”