By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

Vice President Kashim Shettima, has charged members of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) to ensure their economic decisions and reforms were reflected in the lives of Nigerians from all parts of the country.

Senator Shettima specifically urged them to defy the way things were being done in the past in order to pave way for economic growth that would be in harmony with the aspirations of the citizens.

The Vice President gave the charge on Monday during the induction programme for members of the NCP and other critical stakeholders at the conference centre of the NIA headquarters, Abuja.

Recall that last Friday, Senator Shettima had, while inaugurating the newly constituted NCP at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, told members to station themselves on the frontline of actualizing the renewed hope agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.

Speaking at the induction programme for Council members three days after, he said, “This retreat is for each of us to, once again, pledge our allegiance not only to our roles but to the aspirations of every Nigerian. Our decisions here must transcend the boardrooms; they must resonate in the lives of our fellow citizens, from Abia State, down through Lagos State, to Zamfara State. We must stand together to pave the way for a nation in tune with the dynamics of the changing world.

“I am, therefore, confident that each of you would understand the need to be more inclined to engage wholeheartedly, challenge conventions, and envision a future where the engines of economic growth roar harmoniously with the aspirations of our people. But, then, we are not there to consider an alternative path.”

Delivering his address, the Vice President told the NCP members categorically that they could not afford to write the chapter of the nation’s history unfavourably in the voyage of discovery they were embarking on, adding that a lot depended on the solutions they proffer in the pursuit of their mandate to make Nigeria “a vineyard of economic opportunities”.

Shettima, also Chairman of the NCP, reminded members of the Council that the task before them demanded “going to every horizon of the hotbed of opportunities to initiate transformative reform and to collaborate,” even as he implored them to embed the reforms they were set to make in President Tinubu’s 8-point renewed hope agenda.

“Whatever we set out to adopt as the cardinal of our reforms must be embedded in the eight-point presidential priorities announced by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Our choices should echo as the guiding light illuminating our path ahead.

“From ensuring food security to eradicating poverty, from fostering inclusive growth to facilitating job creation, from enhancing access to capital to upholding the rule of law and combating corruption, we must realise that these are not mere aspirations but the fundamental pillars upon which our nation’s prosperity rests.

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the National Council on Privatization, along with the Bureau of Public Enterprises, bears the critical responsibility of driving commercial interventions that align seamlessly with these priority areas.

“However, it’s essential for each of us to pledge to create a future where every citizen thrives. Our aim is to transform economic prosperity from a distant dream into a tangible reality.

“By the end of this retreat, my hope is that we will become more resolute about the necessity of letting our discussions resound with echoes of innovative strategies, collaborative initiatives, and uncompromising commitments to the principles enshrined in Mr. President’s visionary agenda.”

Earlier in his remarks, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, underscored the significance of the Federal Government’s privatisation programme and highlighted its impact on the management of enterprises owned by the government since the inception of the programme.