The highly anticipated 150th meeting of Nigeria’s National Economic Council (NEC), initially scheduled for Thursday, June 19, 2025, has been postponed. As of now, no official reason has been provided for the delay.
The NEC, which is chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, plays a crucial role in advising the President on the economic affairs of the Federation. The council is tasked with recommending measures to improve coordination of the economic planning efforts of Nigeria’s various government levels.
NEC’s membership includes all 36 state governors, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and several other co-opted government officials.
At the NEC’s 149th meeting held in April, notable decisions included the endorsement of the Cotton, Textile, and Garment Development Board and the approval of strategies aimed at expanding Nigeria’s agribusiness and livestock sectors. These initiatives are expected to generate up to $90 billion in economic value by 2035.
Additionally, the council approved the creation of a national office for the Green Imperative Project (GIP) in Abuja, with plans for regional offices across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The meeting also addressed challenges in the country’s animal husbandry sector, a key area of concern for economic development.
In a moment of reflection, Vice President Shettima led the council in observing a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims of the violent killings in Benue and Plateau States. However, discussions on the establishment of a state police force were postponed during the last session.
Although no official explanation has been provided for the postponement of this Thursday’s meeting, it is noteworthy that at least 11 state governors are accompanying President Bola Tinubu on a project commissioning visit to Kaduna State, which may have influenced the scheduling conflict.