The National Economic Council (NEC) has called on state governments to adopt the initiatives of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) to address Nigeria’s food security challenges and their root causes.
The resolution was reached yesterday during the 147th NEC meeting, presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Highlighting the level of progress made so far, Shettima stated that the reforms and interventions rolled out by the federal government in 2024 were yielding results.
“The recent GDP growth of 3.46% in Q3 2024 is a testament to our collective sacrifices,” Shettima said, urging council members to reflect on the year’s achievements and prepare for 2025.
During the session, Marion Moon, Technical Assistant to the President on Agriculture and PFSCU coordinator, presented a strategy to collaborate with states to unlock Nigeria’s agricultural potential.
NEC commended the presentation and requested PFSCU to present its key achievements at the next meeting.
NEC also okayed a proposal for the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to seek a National Assembly amendment to its Act and access 0.05 per cent of non-oil federation revenue for improved operations.
The Ad-hoc Committee on Flood, led by Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, reported on efforts to address flood disasters. NEC approved the disbursement of remaining funds to relevant ministries and transferred the committee’s responsibilities to a permanent task force.
Discussions on establishing state police were deferred to January 2025, with further stakeholder engagement required.
The Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy unveiled plans to transform historic sites into “Renewed Hope Creative Villages” to drive tourism, job creation, and cultural preservation.
NEC also called for increased federal-state collaboration and budgetary support for the initiative.
The HOPE initiative, aimed at boosting human capital in education and healthcare, was endorsed as a transformative opportunity.
NEC urged states to participate actively by meeting eligibility criteria and nominating focal persons.
Shettima noted the NEC’s democratic ethos, crediting President Bola Tinubu for fostering diverse perspectives within the council. He highlighted the importance of collaborative governance in achieving the nation’s developmental goals.
The council also reviewed updates on Nigeria’s account balances, including the Excess Crude Account ($473,754.57), Stabilization Account (N33.7 billion), and Natural Resources Account (N28.3 billion).
