By Mary Onyia
The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved a 90-day ecoJobsic action plan aimed at easing the cost of living, reducing food prices and attracting investment, while urging federal and state governments to develop Nigeria’s livestock sector to create jobs and drive economic growth.
The plan, proposed by the Federal Ministry of Finance, was approved at NEC’s 161st meeting on Thursday, chaired virtually by Vice-President Kashim Shettima. It targets five priority areas: food affordability, tax harmonisation, completion of high-impact projects, removal of investment bottlenecks and regulated household support.
To strengthen accountability, the council also approved a national dashboard to track projects nationwide and monitor the use of funds saved from petrol subsidy removal. Shettima said the success of economic reforms must be measured by their impact on people’s daily lives, including access to affordable transport, healthcare, jobs and financial security.
“Our separate mandates must not become competing excuses. Each governor carries knowledge that no federal document can supply,” he said, urging all tiers of government to work together to deliver tangible benefits to Nigerians.
On transportation, Shettima said the National Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Bus Initiative should be judged by how much it reduces commuters’ expenses, rather than the number of buses deployed. “The cost of reaching a livelihood should never consume the livelihood itself,” he said.
NEC resolved to establish a joint financing framework for compressed natural gas and electric vehicles, while directing officials to engage transport unions to ensure that cost savings translate into lower fares.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate briefed the council on the reported Ebola outbreak in the Federal Capital Territory, expressing confidence in Nigeria’s capacity to contain it. He said 21 states had updated their preparedness plans and urged the remaining 15 to follow suit.
The council also urged states to intensify polio eradication efforts, particularly in communities where children had been missed during vaccination campaigns and in areas affected by insecurity.