The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) is to meet on Wednesday in Abuja to discuss economic, insecurity and other challenges confronting the nation.

Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, the spokesperson for the NGF, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the economy ‪would dominate the conversation when the 36 governors meet at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.‬

“Worried by the economic woes that the citizenry has been complaining about and the hardship associated with it, several governors reasoned that it is high time to tell each other the bare truth by confronting each other on the situation and brainstorming on it,” said Mr Bello-Barkindo.

He added, “This formed the basis for resorting to an in-person meeting which since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has been relegated by the states’ executives. Two things will feature prominently in the conversation: the economy and security.”

According to him, the meeting will be the first to be held collectively by the governors on the nation’s economy in 2022.

Mr Bello-Barkindo added that the governors would launch the Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge Fund and the World Bank SFTAS charter before going into the meeting, expected to commence by 2:00 p.m.

He added that the governors would receive an update on the COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus programme during the meeting.

He also dismissed recent reports that the governors had collectively advised President Muhammadu Buhari to compulsorily retire civil servants aged 50 and above.

(NAN)