President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated the National Economic Council (NEC), charging the Council to work with his administration to revive the economic fortunes of Nigerians.
The Council is headed by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Speaking at the inauguration of the NEC at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja, he said that the task of reviving the economy before the new administration is daunting but stressed that there would be no excuses not to deliver since they all begged and even danced before Nigerians to give them the job.
He charged the Council to get to work, pointing out that Nigerians are waiting for them, saying “It is very reassuring that our citizens are behind us, but they want reforms and they want them very quickly”.
The NEC, which is under the chairmanship of the Vice President, was inaugurated on Thursday, a week after Tinubu called for its convening to fast-track the process of finding answers that will mitigate the effects of the petroleum subsidy.
The Council meets monthly and has the mandate to “advise the President concerning the economic affairs of the Federation, and in particular on measures necessary for the coordination of the economic planning efforts or economic programmes of the various Governments of the Federation.”
Membership of the NEC comprises the 36 State Governors, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and other co-opted Government officials.
Those in attendance when the meeting commenced are Governors Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara); Ademola Adeleke (Osun); Yahaya Bello (Kogi); Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti); Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa); Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom); Peter Mbah (Enugu); Bassey Otu (Cross River); Caleb Muftwang (Plateau); Nasir Idris (Kebbi); Aliyu Radda (Katsina) and Hycinth Alia (Benue).
Others are Dauda Lawal (Zamfara); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Charles Soludo (Anambra); Mai Mala Buni (Yobe); Agbu Kefas (Taraba); Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta); Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers); Mohammed Bago (Niger) and Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto).
Others are Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi); Uba Sani (Kaduna); Godwin Obaseki (Edo); Alex Otti (Abia); Douye Diri (Bayelsa); Abba Yusuf (Kano); Bala Mohammed (Bauchi); Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Borno Deputy Governor Umar Kadafur; and Ondo Deputy Governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume; Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari; Acting Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein; Acting Governor of Central Bank, Folashodun Shonubi, Permanent Secretaries Budget and National Planning; Federal Capital Territory Administration; and State House are also there.
Tinubu had last week directed the NEC to devise an approach and begin the process of working on interventions to mitigate the impact of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.
Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun said this last Wednesday while briefing State House reporters after leading some major oil marketers on a courtesy call on the president at the Presidential Villa.
Addressing correspondents after the meeting, Abiodun, who is a former chairman of the oil marketers association, stated that the marketers expressed solidarity with the President for removing the N4trn subsidy burden.
He said this is a move that can enhance the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocation to states.
The group of marketers subsequently announced their intention to donate 50 to 100, fifty-seater mass transit buses that would run on CNG, costing N100m each and a total of N10bn, to cushion the effect of the removal within the next 30 days.
Tinubu had earlier called on the governors to collaborate with the Federal Government in tackling the menace of poverty in the country, saying the level of impoverishment was unacceptable.
He advised the political leaders to downplay their differences and jointly focus on alleviating the sufferings and pains of the people.
The Guardian/ The Nation
