The Federal Government is set to convene a National Economic Council (NEC) Conference on Monday, aimed at improving economic coordination and fast-tracking inclusive growth across Nigeria’s 36 states.
The two-day conference will take place from February 9 to 10, 2026, at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja. It will be chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who serves as the chairman of the National Economic Council.
According to a statement released by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, the conference will bring together state governors and other key national stakeholders to discuss pressing macroeconomic priorities facing the country.
The event, organised by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, is expected to centre on fiscal alignment, mobilisation of investments, and the formulation of shared strategies between the federal and state governments.
The conference will be held under the theme “Delivering Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development: The Renewed Hope National Development Plan.”
Outcomes from the meeting are expected to influence major policy directions at the state level, as governments align with the Federal Government’s long-term economic vision.
Speaking on the objectives of the gathering, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and Secretary of the NEC, Deborah Oko Odo, said “the conference will focus on national economic issues aimed at encouraging economic growth and development across the country.”
President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to attend the conference as the Special Guest of Honour. Senior government officials, development partners, and private-sector leaders are also expected to participate, as the Federal Government continues to push economic reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The National Economic Council is constitutionally empowered to advise the President on economic matters of the federation, particularly on policies required to coordinate economic planning and programmes between the federal and state governments.
Its membership comprises the governors of the 36 states, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and other officials co-opted as necessary.
At its 149th meeting in April 2025, the council approved the establishment of a Cotton, Textile and Garment Development Board, alongside new policy frameworks for agribusiness growth and livestock transformation. These initiatives are projected to generate up to $90 billion in economic value by 2035.
The council also endorsed the creation of a national office for the Green Imperative Project in Abuja, with regional offices spread across the six geopolitical zones, and discussed solutions to challenges linked to Nigeria’s existing animal husbandry practices.
What you should know
The NEC Conference is a key platform for aligning federal and state economic priorities in Nigeria.
This year’s meeting focuses on inclusive growth, sustainable development, and coordinated fiscal planning under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Decisions taken at the conference are expected to shape state-level economic policies, drive investment, and build long-term frameworks for agriculture, industry, and development across the country.
