Oyo Government Defends NEC Representation, Says Deputy Governor Has Attended Meetings Since 2025

By Victoria Isaac 

The Oyo State Government has dismissed claims by businessman Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi that the state has been absent from National Economic Council (NEC) meetings, insisting that it has maintained continuous representation through Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal.

The government said Governor Seyi Makinde had formally notified the Vice President, who chairs the council, of the arrangement for Lawal to represent the state at NEC meetings.

In a press release dated October 15, 2026, and signed by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the government described the allegation as inconsistent with established procedures governing state representation at the council.

According to the statement, NEC guidelines permit states to be represented by either their governors or deputy governors, a practice it said several states routinely adopt.

It argued that the governor’s absence from individual meetings did not mean Oyo State was unrepresented, adding that the arrangement was intended to ensure continuity, compliance and full participation in the council’s deliberations.

The government also stressed that the importance of NEC participation extended beyond the physical attendance of a governor, noting that the council provides a platform for intergovernmental engagement, policy coordination and access to federal development initiatives and financing opportunities.

It said NEC deliberations covered critical areas, including agriculture, infrastructure, human capital development, digital enterprise, food security and climate resilience, which it described as essential to Oyo State’s development priorities.

The statement added that the effectiveness of the state’s participation should be assessed by the quality of its representation, the issues raised, the opportunities identified and the benefits secured for residents.

Olanrewaju said Lawal had consistently attended NEC meetings since 2025, contributed to deliberations and protected the state’s interests.

He added that the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning also participated, providing technical support to the state’s representation.

The government maintained that the combination of political representation and technical expertise ensured that Oyo State’s positions were adequately presented during the meetings.

It further criticised the assessment of the state’s participation based solely on whether Makinde personally attended the meetings, describing such an approach as misleading because it overlooked established procedures and the role of the deputy governor.

The statement also questioned the context of Sanusi’s comments, alleging that his recent political positions, including his open support for a candidate, raised questions about the motivation behind his criticism.

While acknowledging citizens’ right to express opinions, the government said public commentary on governance should be grounded in facts and verifiable records.

It maintained that criticism based on what it described as a disregard for institutional procedures could mislead the public rather than promote informed debate.

The government said the key issues were whether Oyo State was represented at NEC meetings, whether its interests were being advanced and what benefits accrued to its people.

It insisted that the state had fulfilled its obligations and secured its entitlements through its participation, rejecting suggestions that it had missed opportunities, forfeited benefits or been sidelined.

The statement concluded that the Makinde administration would continue to defend its record at the council, insisting that Oyo State had remained represented and that its interests had been protected.