President Bola Tinubu, alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima, convened a gathering with the 36 state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The meeting, which took place at the State House in Abuja on Thursday, was prompted by concerns over the escalating prices of food items, insecurity, and the outstanding salaries and gratuities owed to workers, retirees, and pensioners.
According to a tweet by Temitope Ajayi, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, as well as a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the meeting aimed to address these pressing issues and reach consensus on the way forward.
Here are the key highlights from the meeting:
In addressing the security challenges impacting farming and food production, President Tinubu made three significant announcements. He indicated that the Federal Government would collaborate with the governors and the National Assembly to establish a framework for state police instead of relying solely on vigilantes. Moreover, he urged governors to bolster their Forest Rangers and equip them to safeguard forests from criminal activities. The specifics of implementing state police and enhancing security measures will be further discussed at the National Economic Council.
To tackle the rising cost of food, the President instructed both state and federal governments to work together to boost local food production. He emphasized the importance of discouraging food importation and price control in favor of incentivizing local producers to increase output.
President Tinubu encouraged governors to emulate Kano State's approach to combating the hoarding of food items for profit by traders. He directed law enforcement agencies to monitor warehouses across the country and prevent profiteering by merchants.
Governors were tasked with prioritizing livestock development in their states, with a focus on increasing production, particularly in poultry and fishing.
The President urged governors to prioritize clearing all outstanding salary arrears and gratuities for workers and pensioners. This action aims to inject money into the economy and improve the financial well-being of citizens.
President Tinubu appealed to governors to create more economic opportunities for youth in their respective states, thereby keeping them engaged in productive endeavors.
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