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Former governors urge real solutions to joblessness, slam N5,000 handouts as unsustainable
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Recommend cottage industries in all LGAs to tackle poverty, revive local economies
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Tinubu agrees to consider proposals after ‘heart-to-heart’ closed-door meeting in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has been advised to abandon what former governors have described as ineffective palliative measures and instead initiate the creation of cottage industries across all 774 local government areas of Nigeria to drive employment and local economic growth.
This was the strong position presented by the Class of ’99 Governors after a closed-door meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday.
The ex-governors, who served between 1999 and 2007 alongside Tinubu when he was Lagos State Governor, warned that the N5,000 palliatives offered by the Federal Government do not offer any sustainable solution to the economic hardship facing millions of Nigerians, especially those in rural communities.
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Chairman of the group and former Governor of Edo State, Mr Lucky Igbinedion, told reporters after the meeting that they advised the President to act urgently on security and stabilising the economy, but more importantly, to prioritise productive job creation over temporary handouts.
“The first and foremost issue we raised was security, because without peace and security, there can be no meaningful development.
“Secondly, we spoke on the economy. The naira must be stable, and people must be able to afford goods. But what is most important is creating jobs. Create cottage industries. Don’t just give out N5,000 and expect people to survive,”Igbinedion said.
He explained that the governors proposed the immediate rollout of small-scale manufacturing hubs in each LGA to directly employ thousands of youths and boost rural productivity. According to him, such a solution is preferable to token palliatives that disappear by lunchtime.
“If you give someone N5,000 in the morning, what happens at dinner? We told Mr President that these measures are not sustainable. And we were pleased that he agreed and assured us he would look into our proposals,”he added.
On the purpose of their visit, Igbinedion said it was both personal and national, noting that the group came to support their former colleague and offer ideas on salvaging Nigeria’s worsening economic situation.
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He added: “We came to see one of our own, a fellow member of the Class of ’99. But we also discussed the state of the nation — insecurity, agriculture, inflation. The President listened attentively and said his doors would remain open to us for more solutions going forward.”
He added that the discussion touched on the naira’s volatility, food inflation, and rural hardship, with the President reportedly acknowledging the urgency of the matters raised.
