President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the National Economic Council (NEC) at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja on Thursday.
Thursday’s inauguration comes a week after the President directed council members to concretise intervention plans to mitigate the effects of the petroleum subsidy.
President Tinubu said the task of growing the nation’s economy is quite enormous.
“Therefore, there will be no excuse for failure or complain as all the elected officials, asked, campaigned and danced for the job”, he said.
The President also urged the council to work together and support his administration’s mandate to transform the economic fortunes of the country saying, “collaboration is not a crime. Please let us do so”.
Afterward, he departed the chambers for his office as Vice President Kashim Shettima steered the discussions amongst council members as NEC Chairman.
Section 153(1) and Paragraphs 18 and 19 of Part I of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended established the NEC.
It 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”.
Its members comprise the 36 State Governors, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and other co-opted government officials.
Present were the 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 included: Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Charles Soludo (Anambra), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Mohammed Bago (Niger) and Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto).
Also in attendiance were Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Alex Otti (Abia), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Abba Yusuf (Kano), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) , Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and acting Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Ayedatiwa, and Deputy Governors of Borno, Umar Kadafur.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Malam Mele Kyari; Acting Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein; Acting Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Folashodun Shonubi; Permanent Secretaries for Budget and National Planning; Federal Capital Territory Administration; and State House were also in attendance.
