By DAVID IORJA, Abuja –

The National Economic Council (NEC) on Monday resolved was that the deeper reasons behind the ENDSARS protests and its fallouts should be addressed by both the Federal and State Governments.

To this end, a Council committee to engage the youths, representatives of Civil Society Organizations, religious and traditional leaders, on employment, social safety net programmes, and national unity among other key issues of concern, was constituted composing governors representing the six geopolitical zones.

Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Office of the Vice President, who made this known in a statement, said the resolutions were reached by members of the NEC after more than four hours of deliberations at an emergency meeting.

The Committee would be chaired by the Vice President , Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who presided over the meeting attended by the Governors, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Inspector-General of Police, representatives from the Military, the Directorate of State Security (DSS), and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

Members of the committee are: Governor of Sokoto State (Aminu Waziri Tambuwal), Governor of Borno State (Professor Babagana Zulum), Governor of Niger State (Abubakar Sani Bello), Governor of Ondo State (Rotimi Akeredolu), Governor of Ebonyi State (Dave Umahi), Governor of Delta State (Ifeanyi Okowa).

The Committee, which is to commence work immediately, will develop a comprehensive framework under the auspices of the Council that would coordinate joint actions and steps to be taken by both the Federal and State Governments to examine the fundamental issues underlining the protests and arrive at effective solutions, including how to enhance Nigeria’s national security.

While supporting President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to a complete overhaul of the nation’s security services, NEC also commended the Nigerian Police and Security agencies for their handling of the disturbances in some States of the Federation while also noting its unequivocal belief that most members of the Nigerian security personnel are law-abiding and are capable of restoring law and order in the country.