President Bola Tinubu, flanked by Vice President Kashim Shettima, convened a pivotal gathering with the 36 state governors and the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, at the State House in Abuja. The urgent meeting aimed to address the alarming surge in food prices, rampant insecurity, and the backlog of unpaid salaries, gratuities, and pensions.
The discussions, as outlined by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, and echoed by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, underscored the imperative need to confront these pressing national challenges head-on.
Key Decisions:
1. Insecurity Strategies: President Tinubu articulated crucial measures to bolster security, including plans to recruit additional police personnel and explore the establishment of state police forces in collaboration with state governments and the National Assembly. Governors were urged to strengthen their Forest Rangers to safeguard against criminal elements in forests.
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2. Curbing Food Price Surge: Directives were issued for coordinated efforts between state and federal authorities to ramp up local food production. Importantly, the President discouraged overreliance on food importation and advocated for empowering local producers. He also called for a crackdown on food hoarding by merchants, with instructions for security agencies to monitor warehouses and curb profiteering.
3. Livestock Development Focus: Governors were urged to prioritize livestock development, particularly in poultry and fishing sectors, within their respective states.
4. Clearing Salary Arrears: President Tinubu emphasized the urgency of clearing salary arrears and gratuities owed to workers, retirees, and pensioners. This move, he stressed, would inject much-needed liquidity into the economy, considering the uptick in monthly FAAC revenue.
The meeting concluded with a firm commitment from both the President and governors to collaborate closely in implementing these strategic measures aimed at mitigating the economic and security challenges gripping the nation.
