From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima has implored new members of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) to be on the frontline of actualising the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
He gave the charge when he inaugurated the council at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, in a move towards fostering private sector-led growth.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of The Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, said Shettima stressed that the council members must do this by championing great reforms through disruptive minds and ideas, even as he noted that every great reform commences with a disruptive thinker, which he said the President symbolises.
Shettima, who is also chairman of the council, said: “Membership in this distinguished council symbolises more than mere participation; it signifies a steadfast commitment and a resolute belief in our shared vision for a Nigeria, brimming with opportunities, growth, and empowerment. It represents our collective pledge to propel the economy forward, build robust infrastructure, forge pathways to employment, and nurture an environment where productivity flourishes.
The inauguration, he said, invited the council “to take a front seat in the effort to actualise the Renewed Hope agenda of this government. Every great reform starts with a disruptive thinker, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stands as a testament to this fact, reminding us of what we can achieve by infusing fresh ideas into this Council.”
In his response, Minister of Finance and Vice Chairman of the Council, Wale Edun, while thanking Shettima, for inaugurating the council, noted that a cursory look at the 2024 appropriation bill and budget estimate indicated that privatisation is among areas the government is relying on to fund the budget and grow the economy.