Tinubu in emergency meeting with governors over economic hardship

President Bola Tinubu is currently locked in a meeting with state governors under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

The meeting, which began at 11:34 am, is taking place at the Council Chamber of the presidential villa.

The meeting is Tinubu’s second with the governors since he inaugurated the National Economic Council (NEC) on June 15, 2023, and comes amid the economic hardship and hunger pervading the land.

Inflation has spiralled out of control since the president announced an end to the petrol subsidy regime during his inaugural speech on May 29, 2023.

Food prices have soared amid pockets of insecurity nationwide. Residents of some northern states recently took to the streets to protest the economic hardship, and some traditional rulers from the north have been sounding the alarm bells.

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recently compared Nigeria’s economic situation to that of Venezuela.

The presidency immediately hit back, criticising the governors for not doing enough in their respective states.

Organised labour had also complained about the economic hardship, threatening to embark on a strike by February 23 if the federal government reneges on promises to alleviate the suffering in the land.

Among those attending the meeting are Vice President Kashim Shettima; Yusuf Bichi, director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS); George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation; Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police; Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser; and Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president.

Governors present are Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara; Hope Uzodinma of Imo; Babagana Zulum of Borno; Godwin Obaseki of Edo; Sim Fubara of Rivers; Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti; Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa; and Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra.

Others are Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau; Uba Sani of Kaduna; Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa; Umar Namadi of Jigawa; Ahmed Ododo of Kogi; Mai Mala Buni of Yobe; Mohammed Bago of Niger; Alex Otti of Abia; Peter Mbah of Enugu; Hyacinth Alia of Benue; and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos.

The governors of Delta, Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kano are represented by their deputies.

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT); Abubakar Kyari, agriculture minister; and Mohammed Idris, information minister; are also attending the meeting.