Shettima presides over NEC in Aso Villa

Vice President Kashim Shettima is currently presiding over the 142nd National Economic Council (NEC) meeting holding at the State House, Abuja.

The meeting, underway in the Council Chambers, is coming at a time when the Nigerian workforce is awaiting government’s decision on the new national minimum wage imbroglio.

In the closed door forum are some members of President Bola Tinubu’s economic team who are participating, indicating the likely tone of the agenda of the meeting.

NEC, a statutory body mandated to advise the President on the nation’s economic affairs, is comprised of the Vice President, Governors of the 36 states of the federation, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Minister of Finance, and other stakeholders.

The NEC members are expected to create an official interface for both the federal government and the sub-nationals, especially as the last Federal Executive Council (FEC), which held on Tuesday, decided to step down discussions on the minimum wage until President Tinubu consults with other parties in the new pay discuss.

Among those present at the ongoing NEC meeting are governors, Hyacinth Alia (Benue) Usman Ododo (Kogi), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Lawal Dauda (Zamfara), Charles Soludo (Anambra), Seyi Makinde, (Oyo), Lucky Ayedatiwa, (Ondo).

Others are Abdullahi Sule, (Nassarawa), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Caleb Mutfwang, (Plateau), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Biodun Oyebanji, (Ekiti), Muhammed Inuwa Yahaya, (Gombe), Peter Mbah, (Enugu), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Dapo Abiodun, (Ogun), Umar Radda, (Katsina), Abba Yusuf (Kano), Umar Namadi, (Jigawa) and Umar Bago, (Niger).

States being represented by their deputy governors include Lagos, Rivers, Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe.