President Bola Tinubu, accompanied by Vice President Kashim Shettima, met with the 36 state governors of the Federation on Thursday.
The President met with the governors inside the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja.
The purpose was to address the insecurity, economic situation and general hardship in Nigeria.
The meeting also had in attendance:
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The Minister of Information and Orientation, Mohammed Idris; the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari.
The Director of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
At the end of the meeting, a statement was issued.
In the statement, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the meeting agreed on common ground to address some of the challenges currently facing Nigeria, especially the rising cost of food and insecurity.
According to Bayo, after extensive deliberations, the President and Governors agreed to work together to solve the problems.
They agreed to tackle the economic pressure being faced by the citizens.
Below are key highlights of the meeting:
1. On addressing insecurity, which is also affecting farming and food production, President Tinubu made three key pronouncements.
A. More police personnel to be recruited to strengthen the force.
B. President Tinubu informed the Governors that the Federal Government will work with them and the National Assembly.
They will work towards putting in place a mechanism that will engender state police instead of the vigilantes that are being used in some states.
C. The President charged the Governors to strengthen their Forest Rangers and arm them to keep all the forest safe from criminals.
Also, modalities for State Police and addressing security issues to be discussed further at National Economic Council.
2. On rising cost of food, the President directed that the State Governments and Federal government should collaborate to increase local food production.
The President advised against the idea of food importation and price control.
To him, local food producers should be encouraged to produce more food.
The Example Of Kano
3. President advised Governors to follow the example of Kano State in dealing with hoarding of food for profiteering by commodities merchants.
He directed the Inspector-General of Police, National Security Adviser, Department of State Security Services to monitor warehouses hoarding food items across Nigeria and stop profiteering by merchants.
4. President Tinubu further charged Governors to pay attention to livestock development in their states and increase production most especially poultry and fishing products.
5. The President pleaded with Governors to ensure all salary arrears to workers, gratuities to retired workers and pensioners are cleared.
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This is a way to put money into the hands of the people since states are now getting more monthly FAAC revenue.
Spend the money, don’t spend the people, he urged the governors.
6. President Tinubu implored Governors to create more economic opportunities for the youths in their states to keep them more productively engaged.
