• NEC approves ward-based development programme, urges Federal-State synergy
• Governors: We’re facing serious education crisis
• People are suffering, pastors are drained, cleric laments
Amid biting hardship and economic stress occasioned by the rising cost of living nationwide, President Bola Tinubu yesterday convened a special session of the National Economic Council (NEC) in Abuja, where he urged governors to deepen collaboration with the federal government to ensure that the economic reforms currently underway translate into tangible benefits for Nigerians at the grassroots level.
This is coming days after the United States criticised some governors for engaging in extravagant spending while the country grapples with deepening economic hardship by splurging billions of naira on new government buildings and luxury projects, despite widespread poverty and deteriorating public services.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in a reaction, had said the recent condemnation by the United States Mission in Nigeria of some governors for spending billions on new government houses, airports, and flyovers while asking citizens to endure economic hardship has exposed the country to global ridicule.
Also highlighting the dire situation, Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr Paul Enenche, said that the country is “under an evil spell”.
According to the Abuja-based pastor, Nigeria is under a “blanket of sorcery and darkness, with many citizens enduring poverty and hardship in silence. There’s a blanket of sorcery and darkness over this nation; an evil spell making people tolerate what should provoke outrage,” he wrote.
In a post on his official X account on Thursday, the cleric highlighted the economic struggles faced by many Nigerians, noting that increasing numbers of church members now line up after services not for spiritual counselling or prayer, but for basic needs such as rent, school fees, food and medical bills. “People are suffering. Pastors are drained. Members now queue after service not for prayer, but for help,” he lamented.
He also criticised political leaders for what he described as their insensitivity and failure to address the dire situation across the country. “Yet, the leaders act as though nothing is wrong. This is not normal. It is witchcraft. A spell of patience in captivity. A demonic tolerance of suffering.”
Worried by the growing discontent in the land, President Tinubu handed the charge to governors to ensure there was adequate accountability for the increased revenue and allocations accruing to states since the removal of petrol subsidy.
The charge was the highlight of deliberations at the NEC meeting, which had in attendance Vice President Kashim Shettima, the 36 governors, and the Ministers of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, and the Federal Capital Territory, among others.
The NEC, statutorily chaired by the Vice President, is a constitutional advisory body that meets monthly to assess the economy and advise the President on economic recovery strategies, among other responsibilities, while reviewing current economic challenges to propose solutions.
Briefing State House Correspondents after the NEC meeting, which was held immediately after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, said President Tinubu’s intervention brought renewed focus and momentum to the Council’s development agenda.
According to Uzodimma, the President acknowledged improved government revenue, spurred by key reforms, but stressed that the real test lies in delivering measurable impact to communities nationwide.
In response, President Tinubu introduced a new initiative, the Renewed Hope Ward-Based Development Programme, aimed at stimulating inclusive development across Nigeria’s 8,809 political wards. Uzodimma explained that the programme is designed to decentralise development, empower local communities, promote entrepreneurship, and create jobs directly within local economies.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, said the initiative was unanimously adopted by the Council as a tripartite framework involving federal, state, and local governments.
“The programme will target at least 1,000 economically active individuals per ward,” Bagudu explained. It will channel resources to promote productivity, reduce poverty, enhance security, and unlock community-level growth.”
Bagudu described the initiative as a “historic step” in localising economic transformation, in keeping with President Tinubu’s directive to “cascade reform dividends down to the grassroots.”
Uzodimma also revealed that the President raised concern about environmental challenges threatening key infrastructure, particularly the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, with Tinubu calling for greater alignment between federal and state agencies to avoid disruptions.
A harmonisation committee has been proposed, comprising the Minister of Environment, the Surveyor-General of the Federation, and representatives of the states, to address such coordination gaps.
IN another development, governors of the 36 states of the federation have expressed worry that the country is faced with a challenging crisis in education, saying foundational skills are critical building blocks for achieving educational objectives.
Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, stated this on Thursday in Abuja, during the State-Level Workshop on Foundational Learning and Out-of-School Children.
Recall that Nigeria is grappling with several challenges in the education sector, including the issue of out-of-school children. In January this year, the Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, said the Federal Government was working closely with governors to address the issue of out-of-school children, stressing that the number of out-of-school children was mind-boggling and disturbing.
AbdulRazaq, in his speech read by NGF Education Advisor, Leo The Great, said: “Nigeria is faced with a crisis. We are dealing with some out-of-school children. However, enrolment in school for most children does not translate into actual learning.” He disclosed that nationwide data indicate a 66 per cent out-of-school rate among primary school-age children in Nigeria, noting that the poor quality of education has led to high dropout rates, as well as low transition and completion levels.
“Foundational skills are not merely the end goal of an educational system; they are also critical building blocks for achieving other educational objectives, including retention and progression from one level to the next.
“As critical stakeholders in the education ecosystem, we understand that there is now a focus on the provision of quality education, especially for foundational learning, to enhance the success of globally tested learning methodology and technology,” he said.
In his remarks, the UBEC Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, said despite ongoing political and systemic barriers, Nigeria’s education system still battles deep-rooted challenges.
