By Nudoiba Ojen
“Ensure all salary arrears to workers and gratuities to retired workers and pensioners are cleared as a way to put money into the hands of the people”
President Bola Tinubu and the 36 state governors on Thursday made far-reaching decisions at a meeting in Abuja.
The meeting was called over the hardship faced by Nigerians occasioned by the rising price of food items and insecurity, and delayed/non-payment of salaries and gratuities owed workers, retirees and pensioners, amongst others.
According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made available in a tweet posted on X by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, “the meeting agreed on common ground to address some of the challenges currently facing the country especially the rising cost of food and insecurity.
“After extensive deliberations, the President and Governors agreed to work together to solve the problems and tackle the economic pressure being faced by the citizens,” Onanuga stated.
Below are some of the key takeaways from the meeting:
On addressing insecurity which is also affecting farming and food production, President Tinubu made three key pronouncements.
* More police personnel are to be recruited to strengthen the force.
President Tinubu informed the Governors that the Federal Government will work with them and the National Assembly towards putting in place a mechanism that will engender state police instead of the vigilantes that are being used in some states.
* The President charged the Governors to strengthen their Forest Rangers and arm them to keep all the forests safe from criminals. Modalities for State Police and addressing security issues are to be discussed further at the National Economic Council.
On the rising cost of food: The President directed that the state governments and the Federal Government should collaborate to increase local food production.
The President advised against the idea of food importation and price control when local food producers should be encouraged to produce more food.
The President advised governors to follow the example of Kano State in dealing with the hoarding of food for profiteering by commodities merchants.
He directed the Inspector-General of Police, National Security Adviser and Department of State Security Services to monitor warehouses hoarding food items across the country and stop profiteering by merchants.
The President charged governors to pay attention to livestock development in their states and increase production most especially poultry and fishing products.
The President pleaded with governors to ensure all salary arrears to workers and gratuities to retired workers and pensioners are cleared as a way to put money into the hands of the people since states are now getting more monthly FAAC revenue, urging the governors, “Spend the money, don’t spend the people”.
President Tinubu implored the governors to create more economic opportunities for the youths in their states to keep them more productively engaged.
