President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday inaugurated the 2019-2023 session of the National Economic Council, NEC, laying emphasis on security and other areas to ensure national growth.
The council which is chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is mandated to advise the President on economic policy of the country and in particular, co-ordination of the economic planning efforts, and programmes of the three-tiers of government.
NEC has all the governors of the states of the federation as members.
Speaking at the inauguration of NEC which was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the president implored the council to pay more attention to the issue of security, saying that it was crucial to his administration.
Other areas he said his government would consider very important were education, health and agriculture.
His words: “Your Excellencies, I want you to pay special attention to the four major issues of security, education, health and agriculture in the coming years of this tenure. As you are no doubt aware, our successes in these four areas will go a long way in lifting our people out of poverty and secure our future for sustainable growth and development.”
He stressed that his government was committed to ensuring security.
According to him, “government will continue to rate security of lives and properties as top priority on our agenda.”
He added that the government would be firmly committed to securing the territorial integrity of the nation, while confronting the remnants of terrorists, bandits and other criminals across the country.
“There must be collective and deliberate efforts by all to improve the security of lives and properties across the country. Security is a bottom to top operation. Everybody must be involved for total success,” he said.
He also stressed the need for special attention to be given to education.
“This is therefore a call to action. I would like to see every Governor rise from this meeting and rally his local Government Chairmen towards ensuring that our schools offer the right opportunities and provide the needed materials and teachers for basic education, at the minimum. If we are able to do this, the benefits will surely manifest themselves.
“Ensuring proper education during the first nine years of schooling means that our children start off their lives with some discipline and education. They will be safeguarded from roaming the streets, and protected from all the evil influences that assail idle hands and idle minds.
“Whatever they choose to do thereafter, children with basic education will be better prepared to learn and to appreciate their own role in society,” he said.
