National Economic Council Holds Inaugural Meeting With VP Shettima Presiding

By Ayodele Oni

Few hours after its inauguration by President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima has presided over the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting, being held at the State House Council Chambers on Thursday, is the first since the inauguration of President Bola Tinubu’s administration on May 29.

The vice president, by the provisions of Nigeria’s Constitution, is the chairman of NEC.

The NEC meeting, holds monthly and  deliberates on the coordination of the economic planning efforts and economic programmes of the various levels of government.

The council comprises the 36 state governors, the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Minister of Finance, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and other government officials and agencies whose duties hinge on the economy.

Governors who are old members of the council include Charles Soludo of Anambra, Yahaya Bello of Kogi, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Duoye Diri of Bayelsa, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, and Godwin Obaseki of Edo States.

Others are Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Babagana Zulum of Borno, Hope Uzodinma of Imo, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe and Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara States.

Newly elected governors are also in attendance. President Tinubu had earlier inaugurated the council before it proceeded with its meeting.

The first major task before the council is deliberation on Palliatives for Nigerians to cushion Effect of the withdrawal of subsidy on petrol.

President Bola Tinubu had last week before the inauguration of the council directed it to kickstart the process of working on interventions to ameliorate the impact of subsidy removal on the people.