The Oyo State Government has insisted that the state remains fully represented at meetings of the National Economic Council (NEC), dismissing concerns raised by Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi over Governor Seyi Makinde’s decision to stop attending the council’s meetings personally.
The government maintained that the governor had put appropriate arrangements in place to ensure the state’s continued participation in national economic deliberations.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the Special Adviser on Media to Governor Makinde, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said the governor had formally notified the Vice President, who chairs the NEC, that Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal would represent Oyo State at the meetings.
Olanrewaju explained that NEC guidelines permitted states to be represented by either their governors or deputy governors, adding that Lawal had consistently attended the meetings since 2025.
He also noted that the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning participated in the council’s engagements to provide technical support and strengthen the state’s contributions.
The government argued that the effectiveness of Oyo State’s participation should be measured by the quality of its representation, the issues advanced and the development opportunities secured, rather than the governor’s physical presence at every meeting.
According to the statement, NEC provides a strategic platform for collaboration between the Federal Government and state governments on agriculture, infrastructure, human capital development, food security, digital enterprise and climate resilience.
The government insisted that Oyo State had neither lost development opportunities nor forfeited any benefits, dismissing suggestions that the state had been sidelined in national economic deliberations.
It also questioned the political context of Sanusi’s intervention, alleging that his recent political engagements could influence his comments on the matter.
The government urged the public to assess the issue based on established procedures and verifiable records rather than what it described as politically motivated narratives.
Sanusi had earlier appealed to Makinde to reconsider his reported decision to discontinue personal attendance at NEC meetings, urging him to prioritise Oyo State’s interests and sustain engagement with the Federal Government.
In his statement, the Okanlomo Oodua and Gbonka Olubadan of Ibadanland said the governor should consider the importance of the council as a platform for economic cooperation, policy coordination and engagement between the Federal Government and the states.
While acknowledging Makinde’s right to express dissatisfaction with any government process he considered ineffective, Sanusi argued that leadership required patience, wisdom and a willingness to remain engaged with institutions despite political or administrative disagreements.
He stressed that the central concern should be whether adequate arrangements had been made to guarantee Oyo State’s effective representation in national economic discussions.
Sanusi also highlighted the needs of farmers, young people, businesses and communities, noting that residents required employment opportunities, improved infrastructure, healthcare, quality education and sustainable economic development.
He maintained that these needs transcended political affiliations and personal disagreements, adding that government institutions were bigger than the individuals occupying public offices.
Describing his intervention as an appeal for institutional cooperation rather than political confrontation, Sanusi urged Makinde to clarify the arrangements for representing the state and reconsider the value of his personal participation in the NEC.
He said political differences should not become barriers to economic opportunities available to the people.
“The dignity of leadership lies not in avoiding difficult conversations, but in having the courage and wisdom to remain at the table in the service of the people,” Sanusi said.
He concluded by emphasising that the interests of Oyo State and Nigeria should remain paramount.
The exchange has brought renewed attention to the debate over the governor’s personal attendance at NEC meetings and the arrangements through which Oyo State participates in the council’s deliberations.
While Sanusi has called for sustained personal engagement by the governor, the state government maintains that the deputy governor’s participation ensures continuity and protects the state’s interests.
