On Wednesday, state governors resoundingly endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s decision to halt fuel subsidies in the nation as well as other early policy initiatives of the administration.
Abiodun Oladunjoye, the State House’s director of information, reportedly announced this in a statement.
When the President hosted members of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), led by its chairman AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, at the State House, the governors took turns speaking and expressed satisfaction with the President’s decision to remove subsidies, inclusive leadership, and statesmanship.
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They praised President Tinubu for taking on the massive fuel subsidy issue and pledged to collaborate with him to lessen the decision’s immediate effects.
The country’s degree of poverty, according to President Tinubu, is intolerable. He earlier urged the governors to work with the federal government to combat the problem.
The President urged the political figures to put aside their differences and work together to lessen the misery and anguish of the populace.
“We can see the effects of poverty on the faces of our people. Poverty is not hereditary, it is from the society. Our position is to eliminate poverty. Set aside partisan politics, we are here to deliberate about Nigeria and nation-building,’’ he said.
President Tinubu stated that the nation should be seen as one big family.
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“We are a family occupying one house, and sleeping in different rooms. If we see it that way and push forward, we will get our people out of poverty. A determined mind is a fertile ground for delivering on results,’’ he added.
The President said good governance would safeguard the future of democracy.
“Present in this room is our diversity in culture and politics, but we are one nation. The unity and stability of the country rest upon us.
“We are in a democracy and we have to nurture the democracy. It is a hard-earned system and not easy to manage. If anyone thinks it is easy, look at other nations who are over a hundred years in democracy.
“We have managed ourselves very well to have a democracy. We have campaigned and arrived at our present destination. We must work for our people,’’ President Tinubu told the governors, while assuring them that he would maintain an open-door policy.
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The President declared that he was ready to exchange ideas, support institutions, and build bottom-up structures to enhance Nigerians’ standard of living.
“What do we do in the face of crushing poverty? What do we do with our development goals? We took the bull by the horns by removing the elephant in the room, before the nation sinks.
“We need synergy to fight other vices like corruption. We are trying to get smugglers out of the way. How do we work together to galvanize the economy, and put resources in place. We must think and perform.
“After removing subsidy, there must be savings accruing to the Federation Account,’’ he noted.
President Tinubu said the education sector must be improved as part of efforts to reduce poverty and penury:
“How do we address the unacceptable level of poverty? How much are we investing in education, which is the only tool against poverty? I am ready to collaborate with you.’’
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In addition, Tinubu brought up the security issues in some states, warning the governors to make every effort to address the situation rather than assuming it just affects those who are directly affected.
AbdulRasaq, Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Kwara State, thanked the President for inviting them to discuss the issues of security and poverty and said that the governors would assist the federal government in achieving its goals for human development.
“The NGF will follow the tradition of working constitutionally and harmoniously with you,’’ he said.
There were 22 governors and two deputy governors from the states of Edo and Niger present at the meeting, which was also attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima and the newly appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
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Assuring the President of their assistance in presenting solutions through the National Economic Council, the governors presented recommendations that highlighted the situation of residents in their respective states.
Below are pictures from the gathering:
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