President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated the National Economic Council (NEC), with a charge to revive the nation’s economic fortunes.

The President stated that this is a major plank of his administration’s priorities.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Council at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja on Thursday, Tinubu noted that the task of reviving the economy is daunting, but stated that there would be no excuses not to deliver.

“It is very reassuring that our citizens are behind us, but they want reforms and they want them very quickly,” he said.

The vice president, by the provisions of Nigeria’s Constitution, is the chairman of NEC.

The NEC meeting, held monthly, deliberates on the coordination of the economic planning efforts and economic programmes of the various levels of government.

The council comprises the 36 state governors, the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Minister of Finance, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and other government officials and agencies whose duties hinge on the economy.

Those in attendance when meeting commenced are Governors Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Alex Otti (Abia), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Abba Yusuf (Kano), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Charles Soludo (Anambra), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe) and Ademola Adeleke (Osun).

Others in attendance are: Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Caleb Muftwang (Plateau), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Aliyu Radda (Katsina), Hycinth Alia (Benue), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Mohammed Bago (Niger) and Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto).

Borno Deputy Governor Umar Kadafur and Ondo Deputy Lucky Ayedatiwa represented their governors.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari; Acting Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, Acting Governor of Central Bank, Folashodun Shonubi, Permanent Secretaries Budget and National Planning, Federal Capital Territory Administration, and State House were also in attendance.

The Star