The Presidency has affirmed that the private sector will play an advisory role in the National Food Security Council (NFSC) recently announced by President Muhammadu Buhari.
This is coming on the heels of complaints by the private sector that they were excluded from the National Food Security Council.
According to a statement by the senior special assistant on media to the President, Garba Shehu, the President is aware of the huge interest indicated by the private sector since the composition of the Council was announced, as well as the reservations expressed by groups that felt left out.
He said: “We wish to emphasise that the Council constituted by the President was more of a think-tank that would focus mainly on policy, while various groups from the private sector would be called upon to make sectoral presentations from time to time. Everybody will be carried along as the Council will work closely with all stakeholders. The Council will be inaugurated by President Buhari on Monday, March 26.’’
LEADERSHIP recalls that last Friday, the Presidency announced that President Buhari had approved the constitution of the Council’s membership of the national food security council.
Shehu said the Council to be chaired by the President, will have as members, the Governors of Kebbi, Taraba, Plateau, Lagos, Ebonyi and Delta States.
Other Members include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; the Chief of Staff to the President; the National Security Adviser and seven (7) cabinet Ministers. The Ministers to be represented are for Agriculture and Rural Development; Finance; Interior; Industry, Trade and Investment; Water Resources; Environment; and Budget and National Planning.
