The Presidency has confirmed that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, is indisposed, prompting the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, to lead the country’s delegation to the 2025 World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C.

The meetings, which officially open on Monday, October 13, will bring together global financial leaders to discuss international development, economic stability, and financial markets.

According to a statement by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Nigerian delegation will also include the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite.

Key events of the Annual Meetings include the Development Committee Plenary Session scheduled for October 16 and the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) meetings on October 17. Other activities will feature regional briefings, press conferences, and thematic forums addressing global economic issues.

Reports indicate that Mr. Edun has been battling undisclosed health challenges for several weeks and may be flown abroad for advanced medical treatment.

Sources within the Presidency also hinted that consultations are underway regarding a possible temporary replacement to ensure the continuity of Nigeria’s economic policy direction.

Mr. Edun, a respected economist and banker, previously served as Lagos State Commissioner for Finance and has been instrumental in navigating Nigeria’s economic challenges since President Bola Tinubu assumed office.

His appointment on August 21, 2023, as Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, was among President Tinubu’s early moves to assemble a reform-driven cabinet.

A long-time ally and financial adviser to the President, Edun has been central to efforts aimed at restoring fiscal discipline, stabilising the exchange rate, and attracting investment into key sectors of the economy.