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Tag: FEC

  • FEC exempts varsities, polytechnics, others from IPPIS

    FEC exempts varsities, polytechnics, others from IPPIS

    • ’No more approval for recruitment from Head of Service’
    • ASUU lauds Tinubu for the decision

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the exemption of tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education, from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Systems (IPPS).

    Minister of Education Prof. Mamman Tahir, who disclosed this to correspondents after the week’s FEC meeting, also said council relieved managements of tertiary institutions of the burden of obtaining approval and waiver from the Office of the Head of Service for recruitment.

    According to the minister, the exemption of tertiary institutions from the IPPIS platform and from seeking Head of Civil Service’s authority for recruitment would allow the institutions to deal with salary issues of their staff as well as recruitment internally.

    He said FEC took the decision to remove the institutions from the IPPIS system because of its concern for efficiency and the management of the institutions.

    According to him, apart from the opposition to the payment system by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the IPPS issue had proved time consuming for university vice chancellors.

    The minister explained that as the tertiary institutions are governed by laws, they should be allowed to exercise their autonomy.

    “It was a very happy day for the education sector because one of the problems which the vice chancellors, rectors and provosts of colleges of education, those managing the tertiary sector in Nigeria, have been complaining about has been the subscription to the IPPIS

    “You know what IPPIS does, which has made recruitment and many other activities of the university remitting to personnel very difficult. Now today’s Council decided, the President has directed that vice chancellor should no longer…they have been taken out of that service. So this is a very, very important development for the vice chancellors that will allow for efficient management of the universities and tertiary education generally speaking.

     “Then secondly, which is connected to that, before now when the tertiary institutions want to make an appointment, they have to write to the Office of the Head of Service for waiver or approval or that sort of thing.

     “Today, the Council, through the directive of the President, has exempted them. They don’t have to go to the Office of the Head of Service because it is actually not in their line of supervision.

    The IPPIS had been a bone of contention between university lecturers under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    In 2020, ASUU, which went on an eight-month strike due to disputes with the Federal Government regarding the payment platform opened for the University Transparency Account System (UTAS).

    The IPPIS was introduced by the Federal Government in October 2006 as part of its reform initiatives to effectively store personnel records and promote transparency and accountability.

    Read Also: Ex-Ebonyi Deputy Speaker defects to APC

    ASUU has commended President Tinubu for taking off unions from IPPIS.

    ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, while welcoming the news, urged the Federal Government to address outstanding issues that made the union embark on an eight month strike last year.

    Osodeke said the strike would not have lasted till eight months if the previous administration had listened to its members.

    He said: “We must commend this government for taking such a bold step and we urge the government to continue to treat other issues on which we were on strike so that there will be harmony in the system and build a university that can compete anywhere in the world and we will truly be the giant of Africa in terms of education.”

    “What that means in simple language is that the university authorities and other tertiary institutions will now be paying their own personnel from their own end instead of relying on the IPPIS”, he said.

    The education minister also said council approved the construction of Senate Building at University of Nigeria and funds to National Examination Council (NECO).

  • FEC approves N6.32bn for two Aviation contracts

    FEC approves N6.32bn for two Aviation contracts

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday, December 13, approved two contracts worth N6.32 billion for the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

    Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, while briefing journalists after the week’s FEC meeting, which was presided over by President Bola Tinubu, disclosed that the approvals were for both the main ministry and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). 

    According to Keyamo, the first contract, involving technical support services at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, was cost at N4.1 billion, while the second one, sited at the Port Harcourt International Airport, involving the fixing of some navigational equipment, was cost at N2.23 billion. 

    He said: “Basically, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development presented two memos; one from the main ministry and another one from one of its agencies, which is NAMA. The first memo is actually a Technical Support Services contract with the CCECC, the Chinese company that built the new international wing of our airport in Lagos and of course the other four airports across the country. 

    “So from the word go, we have struck a deal with the same people who builds the place. It’s only natural that they are the same ones who should maintain their facilities for the first five years. That is what this technical support service contract is. For the first five years. 

    “We have said that they should maintain their chillers, the air handling units, the passenger boarding bridge, the escalators at the concourse, the remote boarding lifts that were specifically made for the physically challenged, and all those facilities they put there.

    Read Also: United Nigeria Airlines boss urges states to embrace aviation to aid growth 

    “It is for five years, the first five years for a contract sum of N4.1 billion, inclusive of 7.5% VAT, with a completion period of five years. So it says for the comfort of the traveling public, for Nigerians and for the enjoyment of the traveling public. So that is the first memo we presented and it was approved by Council. 

    “The second memo has to do with some navigational equipment at the Port Harcourt International Airport. The equipment really are for communication, they call them the VHF FM radios, remote access devices and other accessories for the wide area multilateration air traffic management system at Port Harcourt. 

    “So we are purchasing these equipments for Port Harcourt International Airport at the sum of N2,227,721,091, inclusive of 7.5% VAT, with a delivery period of nine months and it has been awarded in favor of a company that is actually the representative of one of the best companies in the world that produce such communication equipment for the aviation sector.”

    Meanwhile, the Council has also decided to take another look at the issue of waivers being granted on duties in the country.

    Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who disclosed this to journalists at the briefing, said the Council decided to review the decision on waivers in order to help the nation minimize revenue losses.

    He noted: “There is also the issue of other economic policies that were discussed at Council today. Of note is the issue of waiver, in addition to so many other decisions taken. You’ll recall that Customs has reported that in 2023 alone, they’ve lost over N1.3 trillion to waivers. 

    “Council has decided to look at those waivers and review them so that Nigeria will not continue to lose money at a point that we all need these resources for the development of the of the country.”

  • FEC approves N3.23bn for narcotics, explosive detection systems in five airports

    FEC approves N3.23bn for narcotics, explosive detection systems in five airports

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has awarded N3.233bn for the provision and installation of specialised unique and narcotics detection screening equipment at five international airports in Nigeria.

    The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, stated this while briefing correspondents after the fourth cabinet meeting presided by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The Minister said the detection screening systems would be built with drive view mechanism in Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja; Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos; Mallam Aminu Kano Airport, Kano; Akanu Ibiam International airport, Enugu; and Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State.

    Keyamo also said that the council recognised the need for the equipment in order to relieve the agony of prior experiences and the terror suffered by many Nigerians.

    He said: “The two memos that Aviation presented today, and they were approved, one is a memo for the signing of a bilateral air service agreement with the Republic of Guyana.
    “We have entered into an agreement with Guyana and they have been very anxious to have direct flights from Guyana to Nigeria.

    “This agreement was entered way back in 2014, with the administration at that time, but you understand that international agreements, which are treatises, don’t come into force until their internal processes are completed in both countries.

    “Our own internal process here involves a process of ratification of treatise, so if I go out and sign an agreement with a country now, it doesn’t come into force, it doesn’t bind my country, until I come back and then it goes through a process of ratification by the relevant authorities.

    “In some cases, where you have to now domesticate it as a law, it goes to the National Assembly to pass into law, in line with the provisions of the constitution. In some other cases, it is just the executive that ratifies. In this case, it does not need domestication, doesn’t need legislation, it only needs the ratification by the executive, which was done today. So that is for the memo regarding the bilateral service agreement with the Republic of Guyana.

    “The second one, it’s what Nigerians will be interested in because, since I came to office, we have been inundated with complaints of the harrowing experiences that passengers go through at the airports where they have to physically search their bags. I’m sure you all know about that and it’s been really getting under the skin of Nigerians.

    “You’ll see various agencies lined up; NDLEA, they’ll say open your bag, Immigration, they’ll say open your bag, Customs, they’ll say open your bag, EFCC, they’ll say open your bag, and they will dip their hands in your bag.

    Read Also: FEC reviews budget’s key indicators

    “So we thought we should do something like you have the TSA in America, where you have detection machines. So when they pass your bags throuh the machines, they detect explosives or any other thing and that’s the end of the search.

    “So it’s for the approval of the award of contract for the supply and installation of customized explosive and narcotic detection screening systems, with remote and dual view for the international airports of Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu.

    “Luckily enough, the Council saw the need for this kind of equipment in order to relieve Nigerians of such experiences and it was graciously approved by Council.”

  • FEC reviews budget’s key indicators

    FEC reviews budget’s key indicators

    Details of the N27.5 trillion as aggregate expenditure for the 2024 Appropriation Bill will be unveiled tomorrow during its presentation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the joint session of the National Assembly.

    Budget and Economic Planning Minister Atiku Bagudu said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved proposals at its yesterday’s meeting.

    The minister said the Federal Government will be targeting N18.32 trillion revenue, describing the proposal as an increase of over N1.5 trillion when compared to the earlier projection of N26.01trillion.

    The deficit, Bagudu noted, was lower than that of this year.

    He further disclosed that the 2024 – 2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), which had been passed by the National Assembly, was further revised.

    The minister said: “Today (yesterday), among other issues, the Federal Executive Council considered the 2024 Appropriation Bill. You may recall that the Medium Term Expenditure Framework was earlier approved and transmitted to the National Assembly, which the assembly graciously approved and that approved Medium Term Expenditure has the exchange rate of N700 to $1 and equally, the benchmark crude oil price at $73.96 cent.

    “However, in Mr. President’s determination to find more money to fund our priorities, the FEC revised the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Policy Framework and two of the important decisions were to use an exchange rate of N750 to $1 and also a benchmark crude oil reference price of $77.96, meaning $4 more than the earlier approval.

    “This will significantly increase government revenue that Mr. President intends to use in further supporting the ministries, departments and agencies in the execution of the eight priority areas, particularly Health, Education, infrastructure, security and other developmental areas.

    “Equally, the Federal Executive Council approved the 2024 Appropriation Bill and the presentation of such to the National Assembly by His Excellency, Mr. President. The bill has an aggregate expenditure of N27,500,000,000,000, which is an increase of over N1.5 trillion from the previously estimated, using the old reference prices.

    “The forecast revenue is now N18.32 trillion, which is higher than the 2023 revenues, including that provided in the two supplementary budgets. Equally and commendably, the deficit is lower than that of 2023.

    “Details of the Renewed Hope Budget will be announced by Mr. President when he makes the presentation to the National Assembly”, Bagudu explained.

    Read Also: Why war against pipeline vandals is failing, by Oba Akinruntan

    Also yesterday, the Taiwo Oyedele-led Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, briefed the FEC. It provided updates on its activities after 90 days of operation.

    The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, who provided hints from the Committee’s briefing to the Council, lauded the works so far done, noting that its report was well received by the President.

    Edun said: “There was a briefing by the Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, essentially they’ve been working for roughly 90 days, they’ve been working very well and very effectively, such that they are in a position to have even impacted the economy by coming up with initial reforms, as well as signposting the way forward in terms of very important targets.

    “So, in a nutshell, the policy on VAT removal on diesel is from them, they are looking to help boost fiscal situation of the government by increasing revenue, particularly tax revenue, through digitalization, additional efficiency and rationalisation of the range of taxes that we have at the moment.

    “They are looking to increase the ratio of tax-revenue-to-GDP to 18%, which is the average for Africa; so many countries are above that level.

    “It is actually about double where we are now and within a matter of a few years, their target is to reach 18%. Other economic measures, in the short term, are being contemplated and their report was well received by Mr. President, and indeed, the FEC.”

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, said FEC approved Nigeria’s Draft Human Rights reports for further transmission to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

    Fagbemi, A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) stated that the approval is for the fourth cycle of the United Nations Universal Periodic Review and in fulfilment of the practice of reporting human rights records.

    He said: “The memo I presented was for approval of draft national report for the fourth cycle of the United Nations Universal Periodic Review. As you all know, Nigeria is a member of so many international jurisdictions, including the United Nations, and at the United Nations there’s a practice of reporting your human rights records, among others, periodically. We reported in 2009, in 2013 and 2018.

    “So, since 2018 we have not made any report and there’ll be a meeting where all these reports will be considered in February 2024. We believe that it’s just right that we forward this report ahead of that meeting in February 2024.

    “After engaging critical stakeholders in the country in each of the six geopolitical zones and including the three tiers of government; the national, state and local government levels, we compiled the report which we are sending to the United Nations on human rights universal periodic review for consideration.

    “Before we can do that, we have to bring it to the FEC. So, we got approval to forward the report to the UN.” 

  • FEC approves N2.17tn 2023 Supplementary Budget

    FEC approves N2.17tn 2023 Supplementary Budget

    • N5.9b for Abuja light rail access roads

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N2.1 trillion Supplementary Budget for the year 2023, the second this year.

    The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, addressed reporters yesterday after the week’s Council meeting, presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.

    Bagudu explained that of proposed amount, N605 billion would be spent on national defence and security, while about N300 billion would be spent on maintenance of bridges. He added that N210 billion would go for the payment of wage award to civil servants, and N400 billion for cash transfer to vulnerable households.

    The minister also said N100 billion was provided as infrastructure support for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and another N800 billion for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the off season governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states.

    Another N8 billion was included for the take-off of the newly created ministries, such as Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, according to Bagudu.

    Read Also: BREAKING: FEC approves N2.17trn 2023 Supplementary Budget

    He added: “The council considered a request for supplementary appropriation which is a second for 2023, and graciously approved N2,176,791,286,033 as supplementary budget to fund urgent issues, including N605 billion for national defence and security. 

    “Equally, N200 billion was provisioned for seed, agricultural input, supplies and agricultural implements and infrastructure to support expansion of production…” 

    Meanwhile, a ministerial retreat for members of the FEC is scheduled to hold from Wednesday to Friday this week.

    The Council also approved N5.9 billion for the construction of access roads for the Abuja light rail system.

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, said the President has set a timeline for the completion of the Abuja light rail project, emphasising the importance of addressing the roads that connect to the railway.

  • BREAKING: FEC approves N2.17trn 2023 Supplementary Budget

    BREAKING: FEC approves N2.17trn 2023 Supplementary Budget

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N2.1 trillion Supplementary Budget for the year 2023, the second this year.

    The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, disclosed this to journalists on Monday, October 30, after the week’s council meeting, which was presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.

    He explained that out of proposed amount, N605 billion would be expended on national defence and security, while about N300 billion would be spent on maintenance of bridges.

    Bagudu also disclosed that N210 billion would go for the payment of wage award to civil servants and N400 billion for cash transfer to vulnerable households.

    The Minister also announced that N100 billion provision was made in the budget proposals as infrastructure support for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and another N800 billion for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the off season governnorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states.

    Another provision of N8 billion was included in the supplementary budget for the take-off of the newly created ministeries such as Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, according to Bagudu.

    He said: “The council considered a request for supplementary appropriation which is a second for 2023 and guide graciously approve the sum of N2,176,791,286,033 as supplementary budget and this supplementary budget is to fund urgent issues including N605 billion for national defense and security. 

    “This is to sustain the gains made in security and to accelerate and these are funds that are needed by the security agencies before the year runs out. Equally as sum of N300bn was provided to repair bridges including Eko and Third Mainland bridges as well as construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of many roads nationwide before the return of the rainy season. 

    “Equally the sum of N200bn was provisioned for seed, agricultural input, supplies and agricultural implements and infrastructure in order to support expansion of production. Equally the sum of N210bn is provided for the payment of wage Awards. In negotiation with the Nigeria Labour Congress, the federal government agreed to pay N35,000 each to about 1.5 million employees of the federal government and that amounts from September, October, November and December 2023 and that amounts to about N210bn which has been approved and also N400bn as cash transfer payments. 

    “You may recall that the federal government secured $800m loan from the World Bank to pay cash transfers of N25,000 to 15 million households. The $800 million is for two months, October and November. The President graciously approved that an additional month should be funded by the federal government and that is what this N100bn is for. 

    Read Also: BREAKING: FEC approves N5.9bn for Abuja light rail access roads

    “Equally, N100bn has been provided for the Federal Capital Territory in order to support them in urgent and immediate capital expenditure works that can enhance the infrastructure in the city. 

    “Equally N18bn was provided for the Independent National Electoral Commission to support them in the conduct in the Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo elections. 

    Yes, some N5.5bn naira was provided for the funding of the takeoff of the student loans board as well as N8bn for the take-off grant of new ministries. 

    “Equally as sum of N200bn was provided as capital supplementation to deal with urgent requests that have been made to mr. president from various parts of the country.”

    Details shortly…

  • FEC okays $1.5b loan to revive economy

    FEC okays $1.5b loan to revive economy

    • $80m for Ekiti knowledge zone
    • Implementation of MoU with Labour to begin in 30 days

    From Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

    The Federal Government is to access $1.5 billion World Bank’s budget support loan,  Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy  Wale Edun has said.

    The facility which is meant for the revival of the nation’s economy was okayed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday.

    FEC  also approved $80 million in financing from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the Ekiti Knowledge Zone Project EKZ  and 30 days for the implementation of the government-organised Labour’s agreement on petrol subsidy removal palliatives. 

    Edun told reporters after FEC’s meeting that the $1.5 billion, which would be provided by the International Development Association (IDA), a financing arm of the World Bank, is a low-interest instrument.

    He also explained that the AfDB $80 million facility for the   EKZ project is aimed at helping young people have better insight into a knowledge-based economy, technology and communications.

    His said: “We approved today (yesterday) the application for financing from the World Bank and in particular, the International Development Association, which is really virtually free or zero interest lending arm or financing arm of the World Bank. The total is $1.5 billion.  

    “ The world today is one of high interest rates, as the developed world looks to fight inflation. They do it by restricting money and keeping interest rates high so that you can get inflation down. What that means is that interest rates for everybody else, become not just high but very painful, if not unaffordable within that context.

    “Nigeria has been able to make the kind of macro-economic moves; has been able to take tough decisions to restore balance in the economy in the government’s finances that have warranted support and has elicited even support from the multilateral development banks. It is on the basis of that that the World Bank is willing to consider and process on our behalf $1.5 billion of concessional financing, relatively cheap financing and financing that will be dispersed relatively quickly.

    “That was what was presented to the Federal Executive Council and the members approved that we go ahead with that financing given that it is affordable.

    Read Also: Tinubu swears in three new ministers, presides over FEC meeting

    “Secondly, an $80 million financing from the African Development Bank was also approved by the Federal Executive Council. This financing is for a project in Ekiti called the Ekiti Knowledge Zone Project EKZ. An EKZ that is basically to support young people and their quest to take on technology, to use it to be employed, to be trained and to benefit from being part of the knowledge economy, being part of the technological wave that is present very much in Nigeria, which is becoming a bigger and bigger share of the economy.”  

    Asked  why Nigeria has continued to borrow, the minister replied: “Concessionaire is cheap and it is needed.”

    On whether the  government would consider IMF’s advice to increase taxes and interest rates, Edun said: “We are looking to take advice that said ‘grow your revenue.’”

    Also, Labour and Employment Minister, Simon Lalong, said that FEC  approved a 30-day implementation plan for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently signed by the government and labour.

    Lalong said: “We presented a memo from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and the memo was basically on the agreement between government and the labour. You are already aware that 15 items are parts of the agreement.

    “But we went beyond mere agreement, we told them that something different this time is happening because one, part of the agreement is to file it in the court of law which we have set the process already.”

    “And the other one was the presidential approval. There cannot be any presidential approval more than the Federal Executive Council.

    “It was agreed that within 30 days, there must be evidence of implementation.” 

  • Economy takes centre stage as FEC meets

    Economy takes centre stage as FEC meets

    The second meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) will hold today at the council chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, it was learnt last night.

    The first meeting was held on August 28, one week after its inauguration on August 21.

    Economy will take the centre stage at the meeting to address crucial issues and how to tame rising inflation.

    Also expected to be discussed are measures put in place to mitigate the pains of subsidy removal, as well as the agreement reached with organize labour.

    The meeting is also expected to ratify some of the approvals granted to ministers by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who will preside.

    Read Also: Suspected ritualists kill 10-year-old girl in Bauchi

    A senior figure in the government, who confirmed that the meeting has been scheduled, said three ministers-designate – Balarabe Lawal (Ministry of Environment), Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Ministry of Yotuh) and Ayodele Olawande (Ministry of Youth) – will be inaugurated before commencement of the meeting. Their inauguration would raise the number of cabinet members to 48.

    Ministers are expected to brief the FEC on their activities so far.

    The government official said last night: “It (FEC) is holding tomorrow least that’s the last I heard and likelihood of any change is really slim. Mr. President will be presiding over the FEC for the second time. It should start by 12noon and ministers are expected to have arrived before that time.”

    Expected at today’s meeting are: Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF); the National Security Adviser; the Governor of the Central Bank; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Chief of Staff to the President, all the ministers; and some other executive principal officers who might have roles to play.

    Vice President Kashim Shettima will not be attending the meeting having travel to China to represent the president at the Third Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

    This paper reported last Friday that the government has settled for Monday for FEC meetings, a departure from what obtained under the previous administrations.

     “In this dispensation, it was learnt that FEC will meet on Monday’s and might not be weekly to enable the ministers time to deliver on the assignments before them”, an official said.

  • ‘Why FEC has not reconvened’

    ‘Why FEC has not reconvened’

    A ministerial retreat that will harmonise government programmes and align its policies is underway, a senior figure in government said yesterday.

    The retreat, the official explained, will not be ‘a talk-show’ but a reset of public policy for members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    The retreat will shape the focus of the government programmes and policies which the ministers will be requested to implement with specific timelines and proper monitoring.

    Ahead of the retreat, ministers have been familiarising themselves with their ministries to get a good grasp of the situation.

    The ministers are expected to key in into policy outlines of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.

    The source said: “The retreat has become imperative to streamline the promises being made by the ministers who were put on their toes to deliver on government programmes.

    “Some of the ministers have been making tough promises out of enthusiasm. But timelines must be attached to these promises, not only to ensure they are realistic, but also attainable.”

    It was learnt that the government has settled for Monday for FEC meetings, a departure from what obtained under the previous administrations.

    A regular FEC meetings during the Muhammadu Buhari held weekly on Wednesdays.

    “In this dispensation, it was learnt that FEC will meet on Monday’s and might not be weekly to enable the ministers time to deliver on the assignments before them”, the official said.

    Forty-five ministers were inaugurated on August 21. They had an inaugural FEC on August 28.

    Read Also: FEC approves training of Nigerian welders on ISO certification

    Three more ministers-designate – Balarabe Lawal (Ministry of Environment), Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Ministry of Yotuh) and Ayodele Olawande (Ministry of Youth) – will join the cabinet at its next meeting to bring the number to 48.

    Many of the ministers had been up and running since their inauguration.

    Works Minster, Dave Umahi, who was mandated by the President to see for himself the state of the federal roads, as moved around the country and has given his report to the President. 

    He has also got the Presidential approval for the use of concrete to build federal roads.

    Yesterday, the minister said the President had approved immediate interventions to make more than 260 critical roads motorable across the country.

    Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo; Marine and Blue Economy Minister Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Solid Minerals Dele Alake, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Dr. Betta Edu, Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, among others, have also been impactful.

  • BREAKING: Tinubu presides over maiden FEC meeting

    BREAKING: Tinubu presides over maiden FEC meeting

    President Bola Tinubu is presiding over the first Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of his administration at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja.

    The new cabinet members were inaugurated on last Monday after confirmation by the Senate in line with its constitutional obligation. 

    The cabinet is made of 45 ministers, who scaled through the screening while three other nominees were denied clearance. 

    Read Also: Tinubu: servicing debt with 90% revenue unsustainable

    Also attending are Vice President Kashim Shettima; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; the Head of the Civil Service of the federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan and the Chief of Staff to the President president, Femi Gbajabiamila. 

    President Tinubu at the swearing in of Ministers, emphasised that their highest obligation is to restore public faith in government so that people can once again believe that the right hands in government can perform. 

    He also urged the ministers to serve with integrity, dignity, and deliver, stressing that he will hold them to the high standards of the expectations of Nigerians. 

    Details Shortly…