Vice President Kashim Shettima is at the helm of the National Economic Council (NEC) gathering taking place at the State House in Abuja.
Among the notable attendees are Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, and Bill Gates, global philanthropist and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
In a departure from the norm, this NEC meeting is being held on a Wednesday instead of the usual Thursday schedule. The timing coincides with a recent spike in petrol prices and a noticeable increase in queues at fuel stations across the country.
While the specific agenda for this meeting remains under wraps, it includes participation from all 36 state governors, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Governor, and various other government officials. The assembly is particularly significant as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused the federal government of failing to uphold a pledge not to raise petrol prices.
NLC President Joe Ajaero expressed that organized Labour had agreed to a minimum wage of ₦70,000 in July based on the government’s assurances that fuel prices would remain stable.
Additionally, Gates’ visit to Nigeria is part of his foundation’s ongoing efforts to support Africa’s development initiatives. A source indicated that he is at the meeting to discuss critical issues surrounding nutrition and vaccinations.
Gates emphasized the importance of public trust in the government’s ability to provide quality healthcare, asserting that this trust hinges on the government’s commitment to the proper management of health program funds. He reiterated this point during the Nutrivision 2024 event, a Pan-African dialogue on nutrition held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Among the governors present at this significant meeting are those from Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, and Zamfara, while several others have sent their deputies to represent them.
