***As President Tinubu assured Governors that his administration would address issues that devalue the lives of Nigerians.

Ondo State Acting Governor and Deputy Governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa and other Governors attended the National Economic Council meeting which was inuagurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.

While inuagurating the NEC meeting, the President said the task of turning around Nigeria’s economy from the age-long status of “potential to pragmatic” had started with the removal of fuel subsidy and unification of exchange rates, urging the 36 state governors to join the fray .

President Tinubu listed eight priority areas for urgent attention as he called for collective frameworks that will stimulate a buoyant economy that meets the needs of the poor and vulnerable.

He also assured the governors and other stakeholders at the Inuaguration that his administration would address the issues that devalue the lives of Nigerians with focus on security, economy, jobs, agriculture, monetary policy and fuel subsidy.

His words, “it is worthy of note that the monthly meeting of NEC chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima had remained officially the economic platform for robust dialogue among the federal government, the 36 state governors, the CBN and other key stakeholders” .

“In my inuagural speech of May 29th, 2023, I expressed this administration’s commitment to improving the lives of Nigerians in a manner that not just reflects our humanity, but encourages compassion towards one another and duly rewards our collective efforts to resolve the social ills that seek to divide us”, he said.

“I also listed the principles that will guide our administration and it is as follows: to be impartial and govern according to the constitution and ensure the rule of law; to defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality; to promote economic growth and development through job creation, food security and putting an end to poverty; to prominently feature women and youths in all our activities; to take proactive steps such as championing a credit culture and; to discourage corruption while strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of various anti-corruption agencies”, declared the President.

President Tinubu also urged NEC to stimulate ideas, through robust discussion that will improve the livelihood of Nigerians while highlighting the exigency for interventions on poverty.

At the meeting, Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima was formally inaugurated as the chairman of the National Economic Council ( NEC ) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Council, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima will convene once in a month to deliberate on critical national issues and advise the President on Economic matters concerning the Federation.

Their responsibilities include coordinating economic planning efforts and programmes at national and sub-national level.

Meanwhile, the National Economic Council said it considered recommendations from the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission to pay N702bn as cost of living allowance to civil servants as part of intervention plans to mitigate the effects of the discontinuance of petroleum subsidy as announced on May 29, 2023.

The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed disclosed this to State House Correspondents shortly after the Inuagural National Economic Council meeting on Thursday.

He equally disclosed that the council received other suggestions to review salaries and wages.