In a notable development, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, the newly appointed Sole Administrator of Rivers State, attended his first National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday. Ibas, who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu following the suspension of Gov. Siminalayi Fubara in March 2025, made his debut at this key national economic forum.
The meeting, presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima, saw participation from a wide array of governors and deputy governors representing Nigeria’s 36 states. Noteworthy attendees included Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak of Kwara State, Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, and Bassey Otu of Cross River State.
The National Economic Council was established under the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended), specifically through Section 153(1) and Paragraphs 18 & 19 of Part I of the Third Schedule. Membership includes all 36 state governors, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and other co-opted government officials.
The NEC meetings serve as an important platform where state governors and administrators come together to deliberate on the economic challenges facing the country and work toward finding solutions that can drive national growth and development. With Ibas’ first appearance at this significant gathering, the meeting is seen as pivotal, particularly in the context of Nigeria’s current economic challenges, as it provides an opportunity for the newly appointed administrator to contribute to the national discourse on economic solutions.
