President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday convened a special session of the National Economic Council (NEC) in Abuja, calling on state governors to strengthen collaboration with the federal government to ensure that current economic reforms yield real benefits for ordinary Nigerians.

The president’s appeal comes against the backdrop of rising cost of living and worsening hardship, as well as international criticism of governance practices in Nigeria. Just days earlier, the United States had criticised some Nigerian governors for spending lavishly on luxury projects despite pervasive poverty across the country.

The criticism drew strong reactions, with former presidential candidate Peter Obi describing the development as a “global embarrassment,” while Dr. Paul Enenche, Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, said the country was “under a blanket of sorcery,” with the people enduring poverty in silence and leaders displaying a “demonic tolerance of suffering.”

In response to the growing discontent, President Tinubu reminded governors that increased federal allocations especially after the removal of fuel subsidies—must be accounted for through visible improvements in the lives of citizens.

“This administration expects states to reflect reform outcomes in real community-level impact,” Tinubu said.

The NEC meeting, chaired by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, was attended by all 36 state governors, and ministers of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Briefing journalists after the closed-door session, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who also chairs the Progressive Governors’ Forum, said President Tinubu’s message served as a wake-up call.

“The president challenged all of us to remain focused and ensure that the impact of reforms is not just in theory, but felt by people across the grassroots,” Uzodimma noted.

He added that governors recommitted to enhancing transparency, improving local service delivery, and working more closely with federal agencies on economic development strategies.

The special NEC session is part of President Tinubu’s broader efforts to keep Nigeria’s economic agenda people-centered and to ensure that the gains from policy reforms are not lost to mismanagement or misalignment at the subnational level.