Tinubu jittery, meets Shettima, Akpabio, govs over economy

Tinubu jittery, meets Shettima, Akpabio, govs over economy

President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday met with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, along with some state governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, over the state of the economy.

Since Tinubu announced the removal of petrol subsidy by the government on May 29, petrol price has continued to rise, hitting over N600/litre on Tuesday from N186/litre.

This has led to an astronomical increase in transport fares, cost of essential goods and other services.

The promised salary increase and palliative package meant to cushion the effect had not materialised.

Also at the Wednesday closed door meeting with the President were Kwara State governor and Chairman of the Nigeria governors forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma; Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Ogun State colleague, Dapo Abiodun, as well as the former governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje.

Presidential Adviser on special duties, communications and strategy, Dele Alake said the meeting looked at how to finalize arrangement on the distribution of palliatives to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.

The presidency had earlier proposed the distribution of grains and fertilizers to farmers also as part of measures to boost food security in the country.