The National Economic Council, NEC, has set up a lean committee of seven to work with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to ensure a more effective synergy between the Federal Government and the sub-nationals to effectively and efficiently reopen the Nigerian economy after the lockdowns and shutdowns across the country.
The Committee will be chaired by the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, while the Governors of Lagos, Kano, Bauchi, Anambra, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory Minister are members.
This was part of the outcome of the first virtual NEC meeting Chaired by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday, since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, the Governor of Jigawa State Atiku Bagudu, said the Committee will ensure that there would be an effective collaboration and coordination between the Federal Government’s Presidential Task Force and the states of the federation including the FCT.
The NEC also resolved to cooperate with the Economic Sustainability Committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari and chaired by the Vice President in the development of a national Economic Sustainability Plan.
The plan is expected to introduce a substantial stimulus package to ensure that Nigeria as a country gets through the COVID-19 economic challenges and in fact, chart a path of growth and development for the Nigerian economy by ensuring massive productivity in several sectors including agriculture, power, infrastructure, technology, and several others.
The NEC, however, resolved to hold a meeting next week with the Economic Sustainability Committee.