Buhari meets with COVID-19 economic impact team, directs measures against hardship

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday met with the Presidential Committee on the impact of the coronavirus on Nigeria’s economy, and directed the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to ensure prompt payment of workers’ salaries.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

According to her, the committee briefed the president on current happenings around the world due to COVID-19 and its impact on the country’s economy.

She said President Buhari also directed the committee to put in place measures meant to protect the poor and less privileged members of the society from unnecessary hardships as a result of the virus.

Ahmed, who chairs the committee, added that the president also directed the ministry to ensure that critical infrastructure like roads, rails are protected and as much as possible, use local inputs so that the country retains value within her economy.

The minister said: “Well, he has directed that we should make sure that salaries are paid, make critical infrastructures like roads, rails are protected, as much as possible and use local inputs so that we retain value within our economy.

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“He also asked us to take measures that protect the poor and the vulnerable.”

“This meeting was just to brief Mr. President as the situation we are in keeps evolving on a daily basis, as the health crisis gradually expands, affecting states and also the lockdown that has been ordered to help curtail the expansion of the health crisis.

“The consequences of the lockdown are the additional slowing down of the economy and the measures that we need to take to mitigate the negative consequences of the slow trade and businesses.”

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