President Bola Tinubu on Thursday inaugurated the Nigeria’s top economic advisory body, the National Economic Council (NEC), statutorily chaired by Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
The inauguration, at the Council Chamber of the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, comes a week after the President directed NEC to meet to come up with interventions to mitigate the effects of the petroleum subsidy.
In his remarks during the inauguration, Tinubu further charged the Council, which has the 36 State Governors as members, among others, to support his administration in transforming the economic fortunes of the country.
He stressed that the task of growing the nation’s economy is quite enormous, but there should be no excuse for failure, a as he remain resolute in his commitment to delivering on his promises to Nigerians.
The NEC 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 of the 36 State Governors, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Attorney General of he Federation, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and other co-opted government officials.
Those in attendance as at this maiden meeting in the Tinubu presidency include Governors of Kwara, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; Osun, Ademola Adeleke; Kogi, Yahaya Bello; Ekiti, Biodun Oyebanji; Nasarawa, Abdullahi Sule; Akwa Ibom, Umo Eno; Enugu, Peter Mbah; Cross River, Bassey Otu; Plateau, Caleb Muftwang; Kebbi, Nasir Idris; Katsina, Aliyu Radda; and Benue Hycinth Alia.
Others are Governors of Zamfara, Dauda Lawal; Ogun, Dapo Abiodun; Anambra Charles Soludo; Yobe, Mai Mala Buni; Taraba, Agbu Kefas; Delta, Sheriff Oborevwori; Rivers, Siminalayi Fubara; Niger, Mohammed Bago; and Sokoto, Ahmad Aliyu.
The rest are Ebonyi, Francis Nwifuru; Kaduna, Uba Sani; Edo, Godwin Obaseki; Abia, Alex Otti; Bayelsa, Douye Diri; Kano, Abba Yusuf; Bauchi, Bala Mohammed; Oyo, Seyi Makinde; as well as Borno State Deputy Governor, Umar Kadafur; and Deputy Governor of Ondo, Lucky Ayedatiwa.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; the 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.
