Governors Meet on Epileptic Power Supply, Economy

Chuks Okocha in Abuja 

The recent national grid collapse and poor power distribution across the country in the last couple of weeks will dominate discussions when the 36 states governors meet on Wednesday next week.

A statement by the Head, Media and Public Affairs of the Governors’ Forum, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, said the worried “Governors have sought the attendance of the Minister of Power, Engineer Aliyu Abubakar, according to an invitation issued to all Governors by the Director General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, Mr. Asishana Bayo Okauru.”

The head of media and public affairs, said that Okauru pointed out that the virtual NGF meeting which is the third of its type this year slated for March 23 would commence at 2p.m. prompt. 

All governors and other invitees are expected to begin to log in from 1300hrs.

The statement said that the economy will also feature prominently at the meeting as the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Dr. Doyin Salami, has also been invited to discuss the Nigerian economy and his new perspectives.

Salami, was until this appointment in January, Chairman of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC).

He further said that the Chief Economic Adviser to the President is expected to address all issues on the domestic economy and present views on them to the President; closely monitor national and international developments, trends and develop appropriate policy responses; develop and recommend to the President national economic policies to foster macro-economic stability, promote growth, create jobs, and eradicate poverty, among others.

According to the statement, the 36 governors will be seeking to know in which direction he will be rolling the economy.

Bello-Barkindo said that another critical sector that the governors would be deliberating upon is healthcare delivery in the country. 

In this regard, he said that the Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, will be briefing the governors on Oxygen Supply and the rehabilitation of General Hospitals.

Another top official of the health sector that will be meeting the governors at the meeting is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, who will be briefing the governors on the forthcoming Primary Health Care Summit, 2022.

According to the statement, the two ministers are expected to address the governors before the other two presentations, explaining that there will also be the regular briefings from State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) and the CARERS programmes on which the governors are expected to be updated.