The Oyo State Government has dismissed claims by Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi that the state has been absent from National Economic Council (NEC) meetings, describing the allegation as based on assumptions rather than facts.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the government said Oyo State has never been unrepresented at NEC meetings.
According to the statement, Governor Seyi Makinde had formally notified the Vice President, who chairs the NEC, that the Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal, would henceforth represent the state at Council meetings.
The government explained that NEC guidelines explicitly allow states to be represented by either the Governor or the Deputy Governor, a practice many states routinely adopt.
“Chief Sanusi’s assertion that Oyo State has been missing from NEC deliberations simply because the Governor did not personally attend every meeting is therefore baseless,” the statement read.
It added that since 2025, the Deputy Governor has consistently attended NEC meetings, contributed to deliberations, and safeguarded Oyo State’s interests, while the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning participates as part of the statutory technical support to the state.
The statement noted that the benefits of NEC participation go beyond physical attendance, providing a platform for intergovernmental engagement, policy coordination, access to federal development initiatives, and opportunities for investment and development financing in areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, human capital development, digital enterprise, food security, and climate resilience.
“The effectiveness of participation should therefore be assessed not merely by the physical presence of the Governor at meetings, but by the quality of representation, the issues advanced, the opportunities identified, and the tangible benefits secured for the state,” it said.
The government said it was evident that Chief Sanusi either does not fully understand NEC operational procedures or has chosen to ignore established practice.
It also placed Sanusi’s comments in political context, noting that although a businessman, he has recently taken overt political positions, including openly supporting a candidate, and his remarks cannot be separated from his political leanings.
“While citizens are free to express opinions, those opinions must be grounded in facts, especially when they concern matters of governance. Criticism that ignores institutional procedures and verifiable records does not enlighten the public; it misleads them,” the statement added.
The government insisted that Oyo State has not missed any opportunity, forfeited any benefit, or been sidelined in any way at NEC.
“Oyo State’s record at the National Economic Council speaks for itself: present, active, and consistently advancing the interests of its people,” Olanrewaju said.
