BREAKING: Tinubu, governors, others meeting over food crisis

Reports indicate that President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting 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.

According to Punch, 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 platform of the Peoples Democratic Party compared Nigeria’s economic situation to that of Venezuela, a South American country in the throes of hyperinflation, escalating starvation, disease, crime, and high mortality rates.

But the Presidency criticised the performance of the governors, pointing out their failure to pay salaries, pensions, and the N30,000 minimum wage. Protests had broken out in different parts of the country in reaction to the high cost of living with citizens in Niger, Kano, Kogi, Ondo, and other states demanding solutions to the economic crisis.

The organised Labour had also complained about the situation in the country, threatening to go on strike by February 23 if the Federal Government failed to release the promised palliatives and other assistance to mitigate the economic pains on workers.

Seated are Vice President Kashim Shettima, Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

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

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

Meanwhile, the Governors of Delta, Bauchi, Oyo, Zamfara, Sokoto are 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.