The 2020 Ministerial Retreat has opened at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, in the absence of President MUHAMMADU BUHARI.
The President left Abuja today for Niger Republic to attend the 57th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
However; President BUHARI left a message for the participants, in which he revealed that the Federal Government’s revenue had fallen by almost sixty percent due to the impact of Covid-19.
President BUHARI said government was challenged by inadequate funding to meet its obligations, such as the execution of priority projects and payment of salaries.
The President made the revelations as he tried to justify the increase in the price of petrol and cost of electricity.
Vice President YEMI OSINBAJO who read President BUHARI’s address at the during the opening session of the retreat, said it was not a deliberate decision of government to make the two changes at the same time.
The President also said efforts are being made to provide over five million Nigerians with prepaid electricity metres, in addition to solar power for those who are not under the national grid.
He said government was mindful of the hardship being faced by Nigerians and was taking steps to ensure that they are not exploited by petrol marketers and electricity distribution companies, while also taking steps to protect the vulnerable.