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Tag: FEC

  • FEC approves ‘Nigeria First’ policy to prioritise local content in govt procurement

    FEC approves ‘Nigeria First’ policy to prioritise local content in govt procurement

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday approved a sweeping new policy directive aimed at prioritising Nigerian businesses, goods, and services in all government-related economic activities.

    The move followed a proposal by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to institutionalise what he has termed the Renewed Hope Nigeria First policy.

    Briefing journalists at the State House in Abuja after the FEC meeting presided over by the President, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the policy as “a major shift in government policy” and a bold step toward putting Nigeria “at the heart of all business activities” in the country.

    “This new direction places Nigeria, not foreign companies or imports, at the centre of our national development strategy. It seeks to foster a new business culture that is bold, confident, and unapologetically Nigerian”, Idris said.

    According to the minister, the Nigeria First policy will be implemented through an executive order currently being prepared by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

    The policy is designed to overhaul how the federal government spends public funds, especially in the areas of procurement and contract awards.

    Under the new policy, all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) must prioritise locally made goods and services in their procurement processes.

    Any attempt to source foreign alternatives for products or services already available in Nigeria will now require written justification and a formal waiver from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

    Idris outlined several decisions approved by the Council to give immediate effect to the policy:

    1. Revision of Procurement Guidelines: The BPP has been directed to urgently revise and enforce procurement rules to prioritise local content, including the creation of a local content compliance framework.

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    2. Register of Nigerian Providers: The BPP will maintain a register of high-quality Nigerian manufacturers and service providers who are regularly engaged by the federal government.

    3. Centralisation of Procurement Officers: All procurement officers posted to MDAs will be recalled and redeployed under the direct control of the BPP to ensure strict adherence to the new policy, without compromising efficiency.

    4. Mandatory Audits: MDAs must immediately audit all current procurement plans and submit revised versions in line with the new directives.

    5. Sanctions for Non-Compliance: Breaches of the new policy will attract serious sanctions, including cancellation of procurement processes and disciplinary action against responsible officers.

    Where viable local options do not exist, the policy requires that contracts include provisions for technology transfer, local production, or skills development.

    As a case in point, the Minister cited the sugar industry, where despite local capacity, Nigeria continues to import vast quantities of sugar. Under the new directive, such practices would no longer be acceptable.

    “The provision of quota allocations under the National Sugar Master Plan will now take into consideration each participant’s investment in backward integration and local production capacity,” Idris explained.

    The ultimate goal of the policy, according to Idris, is to build capacity in domestic industries by ensuring that Nigerian firms are no longer sidelined in favour of foreign suppliers, especially in sectors where local alternatives are available.

    “The days when contractors acted merely as intermediaries importing foreign goods while local factories shut down are over. President Tinubu wants Nigeria to stop sitting on the sidelines and start producing what we consume”, he declared.

    The move is part of the broader Renewed Hope Agenda championed by the Tinubu administration, which emphasises economic resilience, job creation, and inclusive growth driven by local innovation and industrialisation.

    The Minister assured that the Federal Executive Council would closely monitor the implementation of the new directive, adding that it marks a turning point in how the government engages with the private sector and develops the economy.

    “This is not just a policy shift, it is a reorientation of national priorities,” Idris said.

  • FEC considers raising procurement thresholds to focus more on policy

    FEC considers raising procurement thresholds to focus more on policy

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) is considering a proposal to increase budget thresholds for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to reduce the time spent on procurement-related discussions and allow for greater focus on policy deliberations.

    Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this to journalists at the State House, Abuja, after Wednesday’s FEC meeting, noting that a significant portion of memos brought before the council pertains to contract approvals.

    “You will notice that so many of these memos coming to the council are related to procurement contracts at the FEC level. So FEC thought that it is good to review that so that more time will be given to policy discussions at different Executive Council meetings”, Idris said.

    The proposal, still under deliberation, seeks to empower ministers and heads of MDAs with higher approval limits, reducing the frequency of procurement-related memos reaching the FEC.

    This shift, according to the minister, was a key point of discussion during the meeting, with President Bola Tinubu leading the debate.

    “The idea is that it’s not yet conclusive what the final decisions are, but there is a very fruitful debate led by the chairman of the council, Mr. President himself, to review that so that we can have more time for policy discussions at the Federal Executive Council meetings,” he explained.

    To refine the proposal, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and relevant ministers have been tasked with working out the details.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Tinubu presides over FEC meeting

    Their recommendations will be presented to the FEC for final approval by the president shortly.

    “If you observed, all the memos presented here largely related to procurements, and so we want that to be decongested at the Federal Executive Council level.

    “This will give room for more detailed discussions on policy issues and reduce some of these memos coming by increasing the threshold of those procurement processes to be executed at the ministerial level”, Idris added.

    The move is expected to enhance the efficiency of FEC meetings, ensuring that more attention is devoted to strategic policy matters crucial to national development.

  • BREAKING: Tinubu presides over FEC meeting

    BREAKING: Tinubu presides over FEC meeting

    …as Council observes a minute of silence for Oyagbola, Clark

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is currently presiding over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House, Abuja.

    Just before the commencement of the meeting at about 2 pm, members observed a minute of silence in honour of two former members of the Council.

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) informed the Council of the passing of Mrs. Adenike Ebunoluwa Oyagbola, Nigeria’s first female minister.

    Oyagbola, who served as Minister of National Planning from 1979 to 1983, passed away on Friday, February 28, at the age of 93.

    The council was also informed of the demise of elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, a former FEC member who served as Federal Commissioner for Information in 1975 under the late General Murtala Mohammed’s administration.

    Clark, who had previously held positions as Midwest Commissioner for Education and Finance from 1966 to 1975, played a key role in establishing the Midwest College of Technology, which later became the University of Benin.

    He passed away on Monday, February 17, at the age of 97.

    The ongoing Council session, which commenced upon the President’s arrival, marks the fourth meeting of 2025.

    Earlier in the week, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had announced that council members would reconvene for another session.

    During its Monday session, the Executive Council approved four major road infrastructure projects nationwide, amounting to ₦733 billion.

    Among these projects is the 164-kilometer stretch of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road, valued at ₦507 billion, as well as the construction of a flyover at Abakpa, near the 82 Division area in Enugu State.

    Read Also: Tinubu appoints two new Perm Secs

    Additionally, the council approved a ₦1.09 billion insurance package for critical assets and personnel across all federal airports in Nigeria.

    To combat illegal and unregulated mining activities, the FEC also sanctioned the procurement of a ₦2.5 billion surveillance satellite, described as an integrated solution framework.

    Furthermore, the council considered and approved provisional licenses for 11 private universities.

    Present at the meeting were the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Walson Didi-Jack; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; and several cabinet members.

  • FEC approves N758b for pension arrears

    FEC approves N758b for pension arrears

    • 30m Euro loan for student housing scheme

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved the issuance of a N758 billion bond to clear pension arrears for retirees. 

    The approval was granted during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House, Abuja.

    The Debt Management Office (DMO) was mandated to raise the funds for the payment of the arrears under the Defined Benefit Scheme, which preceded the Contributory Pension Scheme introduced in 2004 and reviewed in 2014.

    Also, a 30 million Euro loan was approved for students’ housing scheme.

    Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, told reporters after the meeting chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that the move would address the financial burden of retirees who are waiting for their entitlements.

    He said: “There was an approval for the government through the debt management office to raise a Federal Government bond of about 758 billion naira.

    That is to clear up the backlog of pension liabilities owed various categories of pensioners under the Defined Benefit System that preceded the defined Contributory Pension Scheme that came into force in 2004 and of course, was updated with a new act in 2014.

    “There were some accrued liabilities which were building up over time. For example, someone who was on a defined benefit scheme yet to retire, would need a top up of their contributions or the amount due to them every time that there was a wage increase, every five years or so.

    “So, this liability that built up to a point where it was not going to be easy to pay them down on an ongoing basis, and so, to clean up that important area and to give people their right, which is payment of the pension liabilities as and when due, the government has put in place an approval for debt management office to raise 758 billion naira that will pay down all these liabilities and of course, be a tremendous relief to the beneficiaries.”

    Read Also: FG will settle pension arrears by end of 2024—Edun

    FEC also approved a €30 million concessional loan from the French Development Agency (AFD) to support student accommodation projects.

    The financing will be implemented in collaboration with Family Homes Limited, the government’s partner for the initiative.

    The concessional loan is expected to improve student housing conditions across the country, aligning with the administration’s commitment to enhance educational infrastructure.

    Edun said: “I will just highlight some particular approvals. First of all, a €30 million financing, long term concessional financing by Agence Francaise de Development (AFD), the French development agency, which is supporting student housing in conjunction with Family Homes formed limited, thats the partner and implementer.

    “It is for students tertiary accommodation project sites throughout the country to provide sustainable and clean energy based accommodation for students.

    “An approval has been given for the all important National Single Window Project. So, the technology providers, the hardware suppliers, have been approved for implementation of the project.

    “Some aspects will take 12 months for delivery of the hardware and for complete implementation, including the software solutions and the technology solutions and the e-government solutions that will take up to 24 months and this project not only speaks to improving the economic competitiveness the international ability to export efficiently, and of the of the Nigerian economy.

    “It also speaks to increasing government revenue. So, it’s both on the on the fiscal side, it is both revenue earning in terms of foreign exchange and in terms of government revenue, it speaks to the increased productivity of the Nigerian economy.”

    He added: “Increased international competitiveness at a time where under the African continental Free Trade Agreement, Nigeria is pushing to be a big player, both in the ECOWAS region and in the African continent as well.

    “Why that is particularly important, we are all seeing that the world is moving away from open trade, from the rules based world trade organization led, world trading environment is moving to a more closed environment, and so the regional and the continental markets will be that more much more important for Nigeria.

    “Finally, we also commented that given the plethora, the large amounts of approvals which were given today, that there was the assurance also given that the economic management team is going to harmonize, synthesize, synchronize, and very much prioritize in an orderly fashion, these different approvals in line with Mr. President’s priorities.

    “First of all, to attract investment that will grow the economy and create jobs and reduce poverty, but more importantly, to also focus on his immediate priorities for stabilizing for now, implementing what will strengthen the Nigerian economy and grow it and create jobs in the near term.”

    “Such as, strengthen food security, enhancing fiscal the fiscal condition, including, as we have seen, the revenue benefits that can come from the National Single window project, increased energy security, strengthen social protection, improved economic competitiveness.

    “Timely implementation of the new national development plan, so that we all have a framework in which to implement the various programs and policies of the government, and also to be able to show to all stakeholders the direction in which the government is going, and as we clearly know, the benefits of the reforms are beginning to come through, there is greater fiscal strength, there is greater competitiveness of the Nigerian economy.”

  • BREAKING: FEC approves 2025 budget proposal with N47.96trn expenditure plan

    BREAKING: FEC approves 2025 budget proposal with N47.96trn expenditure plan

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a N47.96 trillion expenditure for the 2025 budget, marking a 36.8% increase from the 2024 estimate. 

    The decision was made during the Council’s final meeting of 2024, held on Monday in the Council Chambers of the Statesl House, Abuja.

    Speaking to State House Correspondents, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, disclosed that the 2025 framework is based on key economic projections, including an oil price benchmark of $75 per barrel, daily oil production of 2.06 million barrels, and an exchange rate of N1,400 to the dollar.

    The proposed revenue for 2025 stands at N34.82 trillion, leaving a projected deficit of N13.13 trillion, which is 3.89% of the GDP. 

    Bagudu explained that the budget, presented by the Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, incorporates amendments directed by President Bola Tinubu.

    “Today, the Federal Executive Council approved the budget proposals for 2025 with amendments which Mr president directed following a presentation to the Federal Executive Council led by the Director General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu. 

    “The 2025 framework is based on oil price benchmark of $75 per barrel. Oil production of 2.06 million barrels per day. Exchange rate of one 1400 naira (to the dollar). 

    “All these are already included in the medium term expenditure framework which we have presented here, which have also been approved by the National Assembly. 

    “So the total projected revenue for 2025 stands at N34.82tn out of which the expenditure is projected at N47.96tn which is an increase of 36.8% from the 2024 estimate. The deficit for 2025 is projected at N13.13tn representing 3.89% of GDP”, Bagudu said. 

    Meanwhile, the presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly by President Tinubu might not hold on tomorrow (Tuesday). 

    Read Also: BREAKING: Tinubu presides over FEC meeting at the Villa

    Reacting to a question after the Council meeting the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed that discussions were ongoing that might lead to the postponement of the budget presentation to Wednesday. 

    The Minister, who noted that the discussions were yet to be concluded, however said the possibility is there that the budget will be presented to the National Assembly on Wednesday instead of the Tuesday earlier announced by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio. 

    Akpabio, had, during plenary, last week announced that President Tinubu will present the 2025 budget on Tuesday.

    Details shortly… 

  • FEC approves $2.2bn external borrowing plan – Edun

    FEC approves $2.2bn external borrowing plan – Edun

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved $2.2 billion financing programme for external borrowing, including a potential Eurobond and Sukuk bond offer.

    Mr Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, made this known while briefing newsmen after the FEC meeting on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    “We just had the Federal Executive Council meeting, and I am privileged to present two memoranda to the Federal Executive Council.

    ” The first one was to complete the borrowing programme of the Federal Government in terms of external borrowing with the approval of a $2.2 billion financing programme.

    ” It is made up of access to the international capital market for some combination of the Euro bond offer and the Sukuk bond offer, and perhaps a Euro bond of about $1.7 billion.

    “Sukuk financing of another $500 million the actual makeup of the financing which will be done as soon as the National Assembly has considered and hopefully approve the borrowing plan.

    “If the external borrowing approval is given, it will be done this year, as soon as possible after approval.”

    He explained that the actual combination of instruments that would be raised would depend on what the advisors would say about market conditions at the time of the decision to enter the market.

    “Of course, earlier in the year, we had shown the resilience of the Nigerian financial markets, and the depth of their capacity, the increased complexity and sophistication by having a domestic issuance of dollar bonds, which attracted Nigerian investors from far and wide.

    “Likewise, being able to access the international capital market is also a sign of the acceptance and the support for the macroeconomic programmes of President Bola Tinubu-led administration,” he said.

    The minister said that the economic recovery and revival programme to turn around the economy focused on macroeconomic pillars of market pricing of the PMS and of foreign exchange.

    He also disclosed that FEC had approved the Ministry of Finance’s incorporated real estate investment fund.

    According to him, the fund is the basis for the revival and the return of long-term mortgage financing to the Nigerian economy.

    “The Morph Real Estate Investment Fund is going to be, in the first instance, a N250 billion fund that will provide low-cost and long-term mortgages to Nigerians that want to acquire houses.

    Read Also: FEC okays $2.2b new borrowing plan

    ” It will help to complete or help to fill part of the gaping 22 million unit housing deficit. Of course, it will create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

    “It will also pave the way for other investors in the private sector to come in and participate in the all-important housing construction industry with huge benefits and knock-on effects throughout the whole economy.

    “Long-term investors have the opportunity to earn market rates of interest on investment.

    “This is going to be blended with seed funding of N150 billion,” he said.

    (NAN)

  • FEC approves N47.9 trn budget for 2025

    FEC approves N47.9 trn budget for 2025

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Thursday approved a proposed budget of N47.9 trillion for 2025. 

    Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, made the announcement while briefing journalists at the end of the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja. 

    The approval is part of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2025-2027, in accordance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007. 

    According to him, FEC pegged the price of crude oil at $75 exchange rate of N1400 to 1$ dollar and oil production of 2.06million barrels per day.

    Bagudu added that with the growth rate of 3.19% which comes in the second quarter of 2024, the Federal government will continue to tackle inflation, strengthen economic resilience and provide more support for the economy.

    He also noted that FEC approved the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Papers (FSP)

    He said the executive will put efforts in place to ensure the 2025 budget is passed and signed before December 2024. 

    Read Also: JUST IN: Tinubu presides over FEC

    He also noted that significantly Nigeria’s economy has turned in the right direction, achieving the gross positive growth rate in economic stability.

    The Minister further made known that the Council also reviewed the 2024 budget implementation,adding that this included promising progress in revenue collection and expenditure management.

    “It also included a review of the 2024 budget implementation, where it acknowledged that a review of the implementation of 2024 budget reviews promising progress in revenue collection and expenditure management, despite lags in pro rated targets, the overall trajectory So shows that fiscal efforts are on track these key non oil streams performing better than anticipated. Equally.

    Bagudu added that the Federal Government is working to ensure a January-December budget circle.

  • FEC okays €443.3, $141m credit facilities for fighter jets, ammunition

    FEC okays €443.3, $141m credit facilities for fighter jets, ammunition

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has granted the procurement of credit facilities from a group of financiers for the procurement of fighter aircrafts and ammunition for the Nigerian Air force.

    Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who disclosed this to journalists at the State House, Abuja, after the FEC meeting, presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said the approval was sought by the Federal Ministry of Finance. 

    Idris further disclosed that the Council approved a credit facility of €443 million and $141 million for the procurement of six M346 fighter aircraft for the Nigerian Air Force, as well as contracts totaling approximately N44.2 billion for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) 

    “From the Honorable Minister of Finance, who is away on official duty in the US. I’m going to let you know what those FEC approvals are.

    “The first one is that there have been approvals for some contracts, about seven of them for the Nigerian custom service. 

    “The next one is that there’s an approval for an agreement for the elimination of double taxation with respect to taxes on income and prevention of tax evasion and avoidance between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.

    “The third one is an approval to obtain a credit facility in a sum of €443,330,781.49 and another $141 million from a group of financiers for the procurement of six units of M346 fighter aircraft and ammunition for the Nigerian Air Force.

    “The last one from the Federal Ministry of Finance is the approval for signing of an agreement for the elimination of double taxation with respect to taxes on income and the prevention of tax evasion and avoidance between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Botswana”, Idris said. 

    FEC also approved a total of N78.350billion for the construction and rehabilitation of the Buruku/Gboko Water Supply project in Benue State and the Greater Dutse Water Supply Project in Jigawa State.

    Read Also: BREAKING: FEC scraps Niger Delta, Sports ministries

    Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Profeasor Joseph Utsev disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa after the council meeting presided by President Bola Tinubu. 

    “FEC approved the award of contract for construction of the Greater Dutse Water Supply Project in Jigawa State at the total contract sum of ₦59,457,319,900.94.

    “Council also approved the award of contract for the Rehabilitation of the Buruku/Gboko Water Supply Project in Benue State at the total sum of ₦18,893,279,411.42,” Professor Utsev noted. 

    According to the Minister, both water supply schemes will be powered by Solar energy systems as a deliberate effort to reduce carbon emissions and the impact of climate change. 

    He explained that “In today’s FEC meeting, council approved the award of contract for the construction of Greater Dutse water supply project in Jigawa State and this is aimed at serving about  1.5 million people of Jigawa State. 

    “This will be powered using Solar energy to reduce carbon dioxide emission. As you know,  this is a key factor in bringing about climate change. So, with the introduction of solar energy in powering this system, that can be eradicated and as well, and it will reduce the menace of flooding in that particular vicinity.”

    “Again, FEC approved the award of contract for the rehabilitation of the Burku/Gboko water supply project in Benue State. 

    “The project in Benue will also be powered by Solar energy. This is envisaged as servicing about 506,000 residents within the Amaladu axis that will spin to Gboko, Ushongo, and other parts of Buruku local government,” the Water Resources Minister added. 

    Speaking on the intervention of the Federal Government regarding recent incidences of dams collapse in the country, the Minister said that at the moment, a committee was moving round to assess the state of all critical dams with the aim of putting them back to shape to avert a reoccurrence in the future of the impact of flooding. 

    “At the moment, the committee has been constituted into two teams. Team A and team B. The team A is now in Bauchi State. They were in Plateau State yesterday. They are Bauchi now and will be moving to Gombe State. From Gombe State, they will proceed to Adamawa State while team B moves to Delta State. 

    “Today, they are in Enugu State and will be moving to Cross River State. That is how they are moving round and by the grace of God, we are going to cover critical dams across the country before we go onto the second phase, where the report will generated for Nigerians and briefing will be going out. “

    Professor Utsev explained that on the 24th September 2024, FEC constituted a technical committer to assess dams across the country with the membership including the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Minister of Information, Minister Finance, Budget and National Economy, the Minister of Environment, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, and the National Security Adviser. 

    He said the committee was inaugurated on the 2nd of October with a sub-committee constituted.

    The Council also approved the establishment of Creative Economy Development Fund to pool resources for those in the creative industry. 

  • FEC approves construction of 40 houses for justices, judges in Abuja

    FEC approves construction of 40 houses for justices, judges in Abuja

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the construction of 40 houses for judges and justices in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, announced this to journalists at the State House, Abuja, after the FEC meeting presided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    The initiative, part of the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to provide secure and convenient accommodation for members of the judiciary.

    According to Wike, the 40 residences will be constructed in the Kantampe district with 20 allocated to the FCT High Court, 10 to the Federal High Court and 10 to the Court of Appeal.

    He said the project is slated for completion within 15 months.

    According to him:“Also for the importance that the President attach to the Judiciary, he finds it difficult how judges and Justices will be living in rented houses and hotels, that is not safe for our judicial officials, not convenient for them to do their work and do the President directed that the FCT through the FCDA should immediately construct 40 numbered judges and Justices quarters at Kantampe district.

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    “What it means is that out of these 40 FCT high courts which is like the FCT court will have 20, the federal high court Will have ten and the court of Appeal will have ten and this will be completed in fifteen months’ time.

    In addition to the housing project, Wike said FEC approved several infrastructure developments to improve access to the judicial quarters.

    There are “construction of an access road from Artillery Road N11 from Mabuchi to the judges’ quarters.Development of all internal roads within the judges’ quarters.

    Others are construction of an access road from Ring Road 1-N16 Shehu Shagari Way to the judges’ quarters and development of roads connecting to the Court of Appeal Abuja division.

    He said these approvals are part of a larger infrastructure push in the FCT, which includes the development of over 75 kilometers of roads in satellite towns across Kwali, Gwagwalada, and Bwari area councils.

    The Minister said the government aims to complete these projects by December.

    Wike also announced the termination of a previous contract for the development of Maitama 2, citing delays and lack of progress.

    He said a new procurement process will be initiated to ensure the area’s development, potentially addressing housing deficits in the capital.

  • FEC directs SGF to implement varsity lecturers removal from IPPIS

    FEC directs SGF to implement varsity lecturers removal from IPPIS

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday mandated Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume to immediately implement the decision to remove university lecturers from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) platform.

    According to President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, who provided updates on decisions of FEC on his verified X handle, @aonanuga1956, the directive on the separation of the universities from the IPPIS platform was expected to address the long-standing issue between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the government.

    The Council also ratified the establishment of the National University of Science and Technology in Abuja – a Pan African Institute dedicated to teaching African scientists and technologists.

    The varsity, described as the first of its kind, in is expected to boost scientific and technological advancement in Africa.

    Onanuga said: “The council asked the Secretary of the Government of the Federation to expedite the implementation of the Council decision made months ago, separating the universities from the IPPIS platform.

    “The Council ratified the anticipatory approval given on 28 May 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari to establish the university in the Federal Capital.

    “The university is the first of the network of Pan African Institutes of Science and Technology dedicated to teaching African scientists and technologists.”

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    The Council approved various contracts aimed at boosting agriculture and infrastructure development. They include the procurement of tractors and agricultural equipment for national food security, engineering audit of upstream measurement equipment in the oil and gas sector, and supply of SUVs and operational vehicles to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

    The contracts for pre-field development studies for advanced declaration solution technology and procurement of substation connectors for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

    He said: “Although, many contract memos were stepped down, the FEC approved some others. Among them were:

    •      Facility Maintenance Service submitted by EFCC, in favour of Julius Berger at a cost of N392 million. The contract was less than the N533 million approved in 2018 for the yearly maintenance of the headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja.

    •      Procurement of 2000 tractors, 4000 disc ploughs, 1000 disc ridges, 1200 tractor trailers and assorted spare parts. The items to be supplied are for the National Agricultural Mechanization Programme (NAMP) to strengthen national food security. Aftrade DMCC, which has done a similar job in Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Africa and Togo, will supply all the equipment and will also set up a plant to assemble the machinery, in the second stage of the contract.

    •      Contract for the engineering audit of upstream measurement equipment and facilities in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Upstream Sector in favour of Messrs. PE Energy Limited. Completion will be 180 days.

    •      Contract for the procurement of pre-field development studies for advanced declaration solution Technology in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Upstream Sector, in favour of Messrs. P-Lyne Energy Limited. Completion will also be in 180 days.

    •      Two Contracts for the supply of SUVs and other operational vehicles to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission. The contracts are in favour of Elizade Nigeria Limited, Lanre Shittu Motors and Vinicius Global Link Ltd.

    •      Contract for the procurement of low and high-voltage substation connectors in favour of Messrs. Maglous Enterprises Limited. The connectors are for the TCN.