AN ad hoc committee set up by the National Economic Council to address the #EndSARS protests, on Tuesday, resolved that the 36 state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory should meet with youth groups, traditional rulers and political leaders in their respective jurisdictions.
It also resolved that after the engagements at the state level, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and other members of the committee should lead further engagements at the zonal levels.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, disclosed this in a statement he issued after the virtual meeting of the committee.
The statement was titled, ‘Fallouts of protests: NEC committee to engage youths, others, swings into action’.
The statement read in part, “In furtherance of the resolution of an emergency meeting of the National Economic Council last week, the ad hoc committee set up to engage with youths, civil society organisations and different strands of leadership across the nation in the wake of the recent protests has swung into action.
“At a meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, earlier today (Tuesday), the committee decided to promptly embark on a two-pronged engagement process, zonal and state-based, respectively.
“For the state-based engagements, each of the 36 state governors and the FCT minister will meet with the leadership and representatives of the identified groups in their states.
“This will then be immediately followed by zonal interactions, where the Vice-President and members of the committee will feature.”
According to the statement, the engagements will not only include youth groups, but also traditional, religious and political leaders, civil society groups as well as opinion moulders like the media
Akande said the interactions would feature issues around employment, social safety nets and national unity and security of lives and properties among others.
He said the virtual meeting attended by all governors representing each of the six geopolitical zones in the country also formally adopted the committee’s terms of reference.
Members of the committee chaired by Osinbajo are Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), representing North-West; Babagana Zulum (Borno), representing North-East; Abubakar Bello (Niger), representing North-Central; Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), representing South-West; Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), representing South-East; and Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), representing South-South.
PUNCH