President Tinubu urges governors to prioritise welfare of citizens
…backs grassroots development plan
By Kunle Sanni –
President Bola Tinubu has urged state governors to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians by increasing investments in poverty eradication, rural electrification, agricultural mechanisation, and infrastructure development.
Speaking at the 150th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) on Thursday at the State House in Abuja, the President emphasised the importance of grassroots development, stating that real economic growth must begin in rural areas.
“I want to appeal to you: let us change the story of our people in the rural areas,” Tinubu said. “The economy is working. We are on the path of recovery, but we need to stimulate growth in the rural areas.”
His remarks followed a presentation on the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP) by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu. The RHWDP aims to fast-track economic development through direct intervention in Nigeria’s 8,809 administrative wards.
The NEC, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, gave full backing to the RHWDP as a joint initiative of the federal, state, and local governments. The programme aligns with the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which targets a $1 trillion economy by 2030 and seeks to raise Nigeria’s current sub-4% economic growth rate to double digits.
The programme sets participation thresholds of 1,000 active individuals for smaller wards and 2,000 for larger ones, with a National Steering Committee—comprising representatives from all six geopolitical zones—tasked with overseeing implementation. The Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning will serve as the secretariat.
It also draws legal backing from the 1999 Constitution and the Fifth Alteration Act, which mandate governments to promote food security and modern agricultural practices.
In a related directive, President Tinubu ordered the transfer of the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation to the Presidency, saying this will fast-track the execution of critical infrastructure such as the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry superhighways.
