Oyo Has Never Missed NEC Meeting, Makinde’s Aide Replies Sanusi

Oyo Has Never Missed NEC Meeting, Makinde’s Aide Replies Sanusi

By Our Reporter

Oyo State Government has dismissed claims by businessman Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi that the state has been absent from National Economic Council (NEC) meetings, insisting that it had maintained consistent representation through the Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal.

The government, while dismissing the claims, described Sanusi’s allegation as misleading, arguing that it was based on assumptions rather than an understanding of the procedures governing representation at the council.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Special Adviser on Media to Governor Seyi Makinde, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said Governor Makinde had formally notified the Vice President, Kashim Shettima who chairs the NEC, that Lawal would represent Oyo State at the meetings.

Olanrewaju maintained that the arrangement complied with NEC guidelines, which permit states to be represented by either their governors or deputy governors, saying the governor’s absence from individual meetings did not mean that the state was unrepresented or had lost opportunities to benefit from the council’s deliberations.

“Since 2025, the Deputy Governor has consistently attended NEC meetings, contributed to deliberations, and safeguarded Oyo State’s interests,” he said.

The media aide added that the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning also participates in the council’s engagements, providing technical support to complement the state’s political representation.

According to him, the combination of political and technical representation ensures that Oyo State’s interests are adequately presented and supported by the necessary expertise.

Olanrewaju explained that the NEC serves as a strategic platform for intergovernmental engagement, policy coordination and access to federal development initiatives, as well as opportunities for investment and development financing.

He listed agriculture, infrastructure, human capital development, digital enterprise, food security and climate resilience among the critical areas addressed by the council.

Dr Olanrewaju said participation in the NEC was particularly important to Oyo State’s development priorities, as it strengthened collaboration with the Federal Government and development partners while positioning the state to benefit from relevant national programmes.

The governor’s aide argued that the effectiveness of a state’s participation should be measured by the quality of its representation, the issues advanced and the benefits secured for its people, rather than whether the governor personally attended every meeting, insisting that Oyo State had neither forfeited any benefits nor being sidelined in the council’s activities.

The statement also questioned the political context of Sanusi’s remarks, alleging that his recent support for a political candidate made it difficult to separate his comments from his political leanings.

While acknowledging citizens’ right to express opinions, Olanrewaju said public criticism of governance should be grounded in facts and verifiable records.

He maintained that criticism based on a narrow assessment of the governor’s physical attendance could mislead the public about the state’s actual level of participation in the NEC.

“Oyo State’s interests must take precedence over political point scoring,” he said, adding that the relevant considerations were whether the state was represented, whether its interests were being advanced and what benefits accrued to its people.

Olanrewaju reaffirmed the Governor Makinde administration’s commitment to protecting the state’s interests at the national level, insisting that its record at the NEC remained active and consistent.

He said the government would not allow what it described as politically motivated narratives to overshadow its efforts to advance Oyo State’s development priorities.