President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday held a meeting with Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodinma, in Lagos, with discussions focusing on the Federal Government’s reform programmes and how their effects can be better felt by citizens.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Uzodinma revealed that he visited the President to provide an update on developments across the country following Tinubu’s recent official trip to Europe.
The governor described his engagement with the President as fruitful, explaining that they reviewed important events that took place during Tinubu’s absence from the country.
Uzodinma also said attention was given to the activities of members of the Progressive Governors Forum and their efforts to communicate the administration’s policies, programmes and accomplishments to Nigerians.
He disclosed that the governors were set to commence a fresh public enlightenment campaign aimed at showcasing the administration’s achievements and explaining its various economic measures to the people.
According to him, the campaign is expected to begin shortly now that the President has returned to the country.
The Imo governor noted that the conversation was not solely about publicising the government’s achievements but also about ensuring that the results of the reforms translate into meaningful improvements for Nigerians.
He said the governors had understood the importance of moving beyond policy execution to ensuring that citizens actually experience the positive changes expected from the government’s economic measures.
Uzodinma pointed to the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas-powered buses as one example of a government initiative intended to reduce the burden of transportation on Nigerians.
He maintained that transport companies benefiting from lower operational expenses through CNG should also reduce the amount passengers pay for their journeys.
The governor explained that cheaper fuel costs should lead to reduced transportation charges, thereby allowing commuters to enjoy part of the financial savings created by the switch to CNG.
He stressed that transport operators and passengers would both benefit if the reduction in running expenses was reflected in lower fares.
Uzodinma further stated that governors would not limit themselves to commending the Federal Government’s reform programme. Rather, he said, they would take practical steps to ensure that citizens in their respective states receive the benefits associated with the policies.
The Imo governor also discussed his state’s financial situation to demonstrate what he considered to be the effect of the current administration’s economic policies.
He recalled that when he assumed office as Imo State governor in 2021, the government frequently faced difficulties managing its finances after settling workers’ salaries.
Uzodinma said that, at the time, even after meeting the state’s wage obligations, there was often little or no money available to fund other government activities.
He explained that the situation made it challenging for the state administration to effectively execute its responsibilities and maintain smooth operations.
The governor maintained that the economic changes introduced by the Tinubu administration had created a different financial environment for state governments, giving them more room to manage their resources and deliver development to residents.
He added that the priority going forward should be ensuring that the gains associated with the reforms are transferred from government policies into tangible benefits for ordinary Nigerians.
