By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Human Rights Activist, Comrade Shehu Sani has faulted the inclusion of Aliko Dangote, Tony Elumelu, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Ms. Amina Maina Begun Ajayi-Kadir, Funke Okpeke, Doyin Salami, Patrick Okigbo, Kola Adesina, Segun Agbaje, Chidi Ajaere, Abdulkadir Aliu and Rasheed Sarumi as members of the economic team by President Bola Tinubu.
Shehu Sani, who was a federal lawmaker that represented Kaduna Central senatorial district in the eight Assembly, stated that bringing businessmen into the government’s economic team will give them opportunity of prioritising his personal business more than the economy as well as give themselves added advantage over their competitors.
The former Kaduna lawmaker who disclosed this via his X account in reaction to the federal government decision said:
“When you bring a Business man into the Government economic team, his first interest and priority is his own personal Business and not the economy of the Country. And he gets added advantage over his competitors.”
Sundiata Post recalls that President Bola Tinubu recently approved the establishment of the Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC) and the creation of the Economic Management Team Emergency Taskforce (EET) in a strategic move to bolster the nation’s economic governance frameworks and ensure robust and coordinated economic planning and implementation.
The president brought private sector drivers into the economic team apparently to ensure a blend and cross fertilisation of ideas.
Other members of the Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC) comprises distinguished leaders and key government officials, including: President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – Chairman of the PECC, Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – Vice-Chairman of the PECC/NEC chairman, Senate President, chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, coordinating minister for the economy and minister of finance, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, minister of agriculture and food security and the minister of aviation and aerospace development.
Others are minister of budget and economic planning, minister of communications, innovation and digital economy, minister of industry, trade and investment, minister of labour and employment, minister of marine and blue economy, minister of power, minister of state (Petroleum Resources), minister of state (Gas), minister of transportation and minister of works.
Part of statement from Presidential Spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale said in his determination to address immediate economic challenges and ensure the streamlined execution of economic strategies, President Bola Tinubu had established the Economic Management Team Emergency Taskforce (EET) with a mandate to formulate and implement a consolidated emergency economic plan.
He said the taskforce comprises key government officials and industry leaders in furtherance of the President’s collaborative approach toward achieving economic resilience and growth.
He said the EET is now mandated to submit a comprehensive plan of economic interventions for 2024 to the PECC, covering the next six months, for immediate implementation within two weeks of its inauguration.
The EET will meet twice weekly and is composed of the following members: coordinating minister for the economy and minister of finance (chairman of the EET), minister of budget and economic planning, Minister of power, minister of agriculture and food security, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, minister of industry, trade and investment, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, national security adviser, chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, governor of Anambra State, governor of Ogun State, governor of Niger State, executive chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Director-general, Budget Office of the Federation, GCEO, NNPC Limited, director-general, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, special adviser to the president on energy, Dr. Bismarck Rewane, economist and Dr. Suleyman Ndanusa, an economist
The presidential spokesman said the Economic Management Team, established in October 2023, and chaired by the coordinating minister for the economy and minister of finance, serves as the working group under the Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC), playing a crucial role in the economic governance structure established by the President.
He said the EMT traditionally meets monthly, or as required, but will now suspend its meetings for the duration of the EET’s mandate (six months). The EMT is composed of the following officials: “coordinating minister for the economy and minister of finance (EMT chairman), governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, minister of budget and economic planning, minister of industry, trade and investment, minister of communications, innovation and digital economy, minister of works, minister of labour and employment, minister of agriculture and food security, minister of state (petroleum resources, minister of state (Gas), minister of power, minister of transportation, minister of aviation and aerospace development and minister of marine and blue economy.
The chairman of the EMT may, as needed, call on any Federal Minister or Head of Agency to brief the EMT on key programmes and developments affecting the economy.
“The president’s formation of the PECC, under his Chairmanship, alongside the creation of the EET, led by the Chairman of the EMT, and the EMT itself, is the manifestation of a unified strategy aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s economic management architecture for verifiably improved performance. The formation of these teams will complement existing economic governance structures, including the National Economic Council (NEC), which is chaired by the vice-president.
