Spend Your Monthly Allocations on the People, President Tinubu Tells State Governors
President Bola Tinubu in company of Vice President Kashim Shettima today, Thursday, February 14, at the State House met with the 36 States Governors and the FCT Minister at the Presidential villa. The President and everyone present at the meeting agreed on common ground to addressing some of the challenges currently facing the country especially the rising cost of food and insecurity.
In addition, according to Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, the President and Governors agreed to work together to solve the problems and tackle the economic pressure being faced by the citizens. Some of the key take aways from what the President told the Governors to do include
Addressing insecurity which is also affecting farming and food production.
Accordingly, Bayo Onanuga stated that
President Tinubu made some key pronouncements namely:More police personnel to be recruited to strengthen the force. The Federal Government will work with the state Governors 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. Also he noted that the President charged the Governors to strengthen their Forest Rangers and arm them to keep all the forest safe from criminals.
Furthermore, Bayo Onanuga noted that the modalities for State Police and addressing it will be discussed further at the National Economic Council.
On rising cost of food,Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy said the President has directed that the State Governments and 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. Also, the President advised Governors to follow the example of Kano State in dealing with hoarding of food for profiteering by commodities merchants. Hence, President Bola Tinubu directed the Inspector-General of Police, National Security Adviser, Department of State Services to monitor warehouses hoarding food items across the country and stop profiteering by merchants. Also, President charged Governors to pay attention to livestock development in their states and increase production most especially poultry and fishing products.
Similarly, President Tinubi pleaded with Governors to ensure all salary arrears to workers, 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. Accordingly the President said to the governors “Spend the money, don’t spend the people”
President Tinubu further implored Governors to create more economic opportunities for the youths in their states to keep them more productively engaged.