President Bola Tinubu on Monday gave the Federal Executive Council (FEC) a marching order to marshal the revival of the economy and make life more bearable for citizens.
The maiden cabinet meeting presided over by Tinubu at the Council Chambers of the presidential villa, Abuja, specifically considered the “Roadmap for the economy” presented by the minister of finance and coordinating minister for the economy, Wale Edun.
Speaking on the issue at a press briefing, Edun said the council agreed that the economy is not where it should be.
The Minister said FEC examined eight priority areas and identified targets to deliver within the next three years.
Edun affirmed that President Tinubu also charged the ministers to roll out policies and programmes to turn around the economy.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to freeze the processing of visas for all government officials seeking to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly without proof of direct participation in UNGA’s official schedule of activities.
President Tinubu’s directive on Monday, is part of a broader effort to reduce the cost of governance in Nigeria, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
To prevent any sharp practice in this regard, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria is accordingly guided on official visa processing while Nigeria’s Permanent Mission in New York is further directed to prevent and stop the accreditation of any government official who is not placed on the protocol lists forwarded by the approving authority.
By this directive of the President, all Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies are mandated to ensure that all officials, who are approved for inclusion in the UNGA delegation, strictly limit the number of aides and associated staff partaking in the event. Where excesses or anomalies in this regard are identified, they will be removed during the final verification process.
The President further affirmed that, henceforth, government officials and government expenditure must reflect the prudence and sacrifice being made by well-meaning Nigerians across the nation.
THEGUARDIAN
