This Is A Delicate Period To Govern Nigeria – Says VP Shettima
Given the nation’s current circumstances, Vice-President Kashim Shettima emphasized the sensitivity of holding a public office in Nigeria at this time.
He urged governors to develop policies aimed at easing the hardships faced by the populace.
These remarks were made during Thursday’s virtual 140th session of the National Economic Council (NEC).
As chairman of the Council, Shettima affirmed the current administration’s commitment to establishing a lasting legacy of prosperity and opportunities for the Nigerian people.
He reiterated that the government will not cease its efforts until the citizens can fully benefit from the promised opportunities, highlighting the emphasis on skill development and job creation.
Shettima specifically charged Governors with the responsibility of prioritizing initiatives that provide Nigerians with dignified means of livelihood, aligning with President Tinubu’s eight-point
agenda.
Shettima told the Governors that, “we must remain consistent in implementing the initiatives that alleviate the suffering of our citizens and be accountable in doing so. We must also ensure that
interventions we deploy are non-discriminatory and favor all stakeholders, with no part of our communities or nation left lagging.
“When we empower entrepreneurs and small business owners, we unlock the potential for innovation, job creation, and economic growth. By providing access to financing, training, and
mentorship programs, we unleash the entrepreneurial spirit that lies within every Nigerian, catalyzing a wave of economic prosperity that benefits us all. We cannot achieve this without
inclusivity and equitable access to opportunities. This is the ladder we must offer to every disadvantaged citizen”.
The VP noted that the government has “moved beyond mere deliberations to the implementation phase” and it is actively pursuing its “short-term goals en route to achieving our medium-term
and long-term strategies.
The Vice President observed, however, that despite the interventions made so far to prevent natural disasters, “to combat crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, to alleviate the short-term inflationary
impacts of our economic-saving decisions, to mitigate environmental damage, and to curb revenue loss”, the efforts would be useless to the citizens unless “job creation and skill development at
every corner of the nation” are prioritized.
Noting that it is not the best of times to be in office, Shettima implored the governors and other council members to remain constant in executing initiatives that will help wriggle the citizens out
of their present condition.
“This is a delicate period to occupy offices like ours. We cannot remind ourselves enough that we have come at a time that tests the depth of our leadership and demands our most rational wisdom
to make a difference.
In his presentation on the i-DICE program, the Executive Director in charge of SMEs at the Bank of Industry, Shekarau Omar, said the i-DICE programme, a special intervention by the
government, aimed at delivering on the promise by the Tinubu administration to create millions of jobs in the technology space.
Omar explained that the program supports the government’s agenda to create more sustainable jobs, diversify the economy, and equip digital and creative incubation hubs/innovation centers
across the country.
