From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima presided over the 137th meeting of the National Economic Council and the fourth of the Tinubu administration at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday.
The last meeting held on September 28 to consider priority areas for the next three and half years, including economic stability, welfare and security.
Shetimma had in his opening address at the last NEC meeting titled, ‘Planning for Stability: Our Agenda for Economic Growth in 2024’, reminded the governors and other members of council that their collaboration and goodwill will be crucial in carrying out the difficult decisions necessary to save Nigeria’s economy.
NEC, a statutory body mandated to advise the President on the nation’s economic affairs, is chaired by the Vice President, with the Governors of the 36 states of the federation, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Minister of Finance and other stakeholders as members.
Present at the meeting were state governors except those of Akwa Ibom, Kano, Lagos, Enugu, Osun, Borno, Nasarawa and Adamawa States who are represented by their deputies.
Neither Governor of Edo, Godwin Obaseki nor his deputy, Philip Shaibu, were present as at the time the meeting commenced.