President Bola Tinubu today met with all 36 state governors under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum at the Council Chamber of the Aso Rock Village, Abuja.
The meeting began after the President arrived at the chamber at 11:34am. Thursday’s gathering is Tinubu’s second meeting with the state executives since he inaugurated the National Economic Council on June 15, 2023. It follows the recent hike in food prices and economic hardship and pockets of insecurity recorded nationwide.
Days earlier, governors elected on the Peoples Democratic Party platform compared Nigeria’s economic position to that of Venezuela, a South American country experiencing hyperinflation, escalating famine, sickness, crime, and high mortality rates.
However, the Presidency attacked the governors’ performance, citing their failure to pay wages, pensions, and the N30,000 minimum wage.
Protests had broken out across the country in response to the high cost of living, with residents in Niger, Kano, Kogi, Ondo, and other states seeking remedies to the economic crisis.The organised labour movement had also expressed concerns about the situation in the country, threatening to go on strike by February 23 if the Federal Government did not provide the promised palliatives and other help to alleviate workers’ economic hardship.Vice President Kashim Shettima, Director-General of the Department of State Services Yusuf Bichi, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and President’s Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila are all seated.
Kwara Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Imo Governor Hope Uzodinma, Borno Governor Babagana Zulum, Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki, Rivers Governor Sim Fubara, Ekiti Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule, and Anambra Governor Charles Soludo would all be in attendance.Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang, Kaduna Governor Uba Sani, Adamawa Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, Jigawa Governor Umar Namadi, Kogi Governor Ahmed Ododo, Yobe Governor Mai Mala Buni, Niger Governor Mohammed Bago, Abia Governor Alex Otti, Enugu Governor Peter Mbah, Benue Governor Hyacinth Alia, and Lagos Governor Babajide Sandi-Olu are also in attendance.
Meanwhile, the Governors of Delta, Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kano are represented by their deputies.Ministers of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari; and Information, Mohammed Idris, were also seated.
Top on the agenda would be solutions to the economic and security crisis in the country.