State governors have expressed strong support for President Bola Tinubu’s decision to end fuel subsidy payments in the country and other early policy initiatives of the administration.
The governors who spoke during a visit to the Presidential Villa on Wednesday expressed happiness at the President’s subsidy removal decision, all-inclusive leadership and statesmanship.
Led by its Chairman, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) commended President Tinubu for tackling the fuel subsidy behemoth, promising to work with him to ameliorate the short-term impact of the decision.
Tinubu had earlier called on the governors to collaborate with the federal government in tackling the menace of poverty in the country, saying the level of impoverishment was unacceptable.
The president also advised the political leaders to downplay their differences and jointly focus on alleviating the sufferings of the people.
“We can see the effects of poverty on the faces of our people. Poverty is not hereditary; it is from society. Our position is to eliminate poverty. Set aside partisan politics; we are here to deliberate about Nigeria and nation-building,’’ he said, adding that the nation should be seen as one big family.
“We are a family occupying one house and sleeping in different rooms. If we see it that way and push forward, we will get our people out of poverty. A determined mind is a fertile ground for delivering on results,’’ he said.
“We are in a democracy, and we have to nurture the democracy. It is a hard-earned system and not easy to manage. If anyone thinks it is easy, look at other nations who are over a hundred years in democracy.
“We have managed ourselves very well to have a democracy. We have campaigned and arrived at our present destination. We must work for our people,’’ President Tinubu told the governors, while assuring them that he would maintain an open-door policy.
The president said he was prepared to share ideas, strengthen institutions, and create bottom-up frameworks that will improve the livelihood of Nigerians.
According to Tinubu, the education sector must be improved as part of efforts to reduce poverty and penury:
The president also drew attention to the security problems in some states, admonishing the governors that all efforts should be put in place to tackle the security situation, without thinking it’s only for those facing it.
“The NGF will follow the tradition of working constitutionally and harmoniously with you,’’ he said.
The governors made suggestions highlighting the plight of citizens in their states, assuring the president of their support in proffering solutions through the National Economic Council (NEC).
