Abuja — A delegation of former governors from the Class of 1999 has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritize job creation and national security over short-term relief efforts such as the ₦5,000 palliative payments.
Led by former Edo State Governor Chief Lucky Igbinedion, the ex-governors—who served from 1999 to 2007 and include Tinubu as one of their own—met with the president at the Presidential Villa on Friday. Their closed-door discussion centered on the nation’s deepening economic hardship, rural poverty, insecurity, and the unstable naira.
Chief Igbinedion stressed that the economic crisis is hitting rural Nigerians the hardest and proposed the establishment of cottage industries in all 774 local government areas as a sustainable solution to unemployment and poverty.
“We told the President that giving people ₦5,000 does not provide long-term relief,” Igbinedion said. “What happens after lunch or dinner? Instead, let’s focus on building small industries that employ and empower people.”
He added that their meeting with Tinubu was cordial and productive. They discussed critical issues such as stabilizing the naira, enhancing food security, and restoring public trust through economic empowerment rather than token handouts.
According to Igbinedion, President Tinubu was receptive to their recommendations and assured them that his administration is committed to long-term development and tackling the root causes of poverty.
“Without security, there can be no progress,” he emphasized. “And to fix the economy, we need stable foreign exchange and people-centered development. That starts with giving people jobs.”
He also praised Tinubu for being open to feedback and promised continued engagement from the Class of ’99 in the interest of national development.
