Kashim Shettima NEC meeting holds as governors convene to discuss economic and governance issues amid renewed state police debate.
Kashim Shettima NEC meeting opened on Thursday in Abuja, drawing attention as the first formal gathering of governors since President Bola Tinubu revived calls for the establishment of state police forces.
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The session, held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, began at around 11:30 a.m. local time, with Vice President Shettima presiding.
It commenced with prayers led by Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori before participants entered a closed-door session.
This month’s meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) comes at a politically charged moment. While primarily mandated to deliberate on economic policy, the council often addresses broader governance concerns, and today’s gathering may include discussions on the escalating security crisis gripping several regions.
The Kashim Shettima NEC meeting follows Tinubu’s comments during a meeting with leaders from Katsina State earlier this week, where he said, “I am reviewing all the aspects of security; I have to create a state police.”
The president’s statement reignited national debate around the decentralisation of policing.
State policing remains a deeply divisive issue in Nigeria.
While proponents argue it is essential to combat rising insecurity — including banditry, kidnapping, and insurgency — critics fear it could lead to abuse of power by state governors and undermine national cohesion.
Governors and other NEC members, including the Central Bank Governor and key cabinet ministers, are expected to engage in a wide-ranging discussion that may touch on security funding, governance reforms, and intergovernmental coordination.
Although no formal agenda has been made public, the Kashim Shettima NEC meeting is being closely watched by analysts and stakeholders eager to see how sub-national leaders respond to the president’s proposal.
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As of press time, the meeting was still underway, with a full communique expected to follow.
