Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Vitalis Emeka Obi, mni, has described the National Economic Council (NEC) Secretariat as an engine room which plays a vital role in shaping economic policies of the nation, saying it must be made to operate with great efficiency and synergy. This was contained in a statement signed by Julie Osagie Jacobs, Director of Information and Public Relations.
He said this while delivering his opening remarks during a retreat for the NEC Secretariat and members of the Office of the Vice President, themed ‘Repositioning the National Economic Council Secretariat for synergy and optimal service delivery’ held at the Zuma Rock Resort Hotel in Suleja on the 7th February, 2025.
Dr. Obi charged members of the NEC Secretariat to be focused in order to achieve optimal results as well as foster closer collaboration among all the stakeholders.
He informed that the National Economic Council serves as a high level platform for dialogue and policy direction on economic migration as well as a podium that ensures that national and global efforts are inclusive, efficient and well coordinated.
The Special Adviser to the Vice President on NEC and Climate Change, Rukaya El-Rufai, who spoke earlier, reiterated that the National Economic Council is a critical part of governance. She revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration had taken bold economic reforms because he exhibited the political will to achieve results.
She therefore expressed gratitude to the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Vitalis Obi, mni for his initiative to collaborate with the Office of the Vice President, and advised that the Secretariat work on having a data bank and data Lab to foster continuity.
The Director, Special Duties, and also the Head of NEC Secretariat, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Gloria Ahmed said the collective success is the ability to work together and support NEC to bring out sound economic policies.
Resolutions reached after brainstorming sections include; the production of a Handbook for affairs of the NEC meetings, adoption of a standard for NEC presentations and the timely presentations, digitalization of the affairs of NEC and its resolutions for institutional memories and ease of reference.
The retreat featured seasoned Resource Persons like the Federal Lead, FCDO, Dr. Umar Abu who gave a talk on repositioning NEC Secretariat and the Office of the Vice President for synergy and optimal service delivery; Former Director, Special Duties, FMBEP, Mr. Olukayode Adeniran and Mr. Richard Dare, a former Director Admin, State House, Abuja.
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