The Nation Newspaper

Tag: National Economic Council (NEC)

  • FG approves N800m as budget support loan facility for states

    FG approves N800m as budget support loan facility for states

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of N800 million for each of the 36 states of the federation as part of the Budget Support Loan Facility.

    The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo udoma, stated this when he briefed State House correspondents, alongside Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo, on the outcome of the meeting of the National Economic Council ( NEC ) in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.

    Udoma said the Accountant General of the Federation reported to the Council that approval for the payment of the amount had been received by his office and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had been directed to pay the money to the states.

    “Governors expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the restoration of the Budget Support Loan Facility for July and August 2017,’’ he said.

    He said the Accountant General also informed the Council that the balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) as at Nov. 17 stood at $2,309,693,583.35

    He said the Council was also updated on the balance of the Stabilisation Fund Account (SFA), which, as at Nov. 17 stood at N6,689,072,836.11

    The minister said the balance of the Natural Resources Development Fund Account stood at N100, 314, 169, 190,23 as at Nov. 17.

    Akeredolu told the correspondents that the Council received the Report of the NEC hoc Committee on Export Promotion.

    The committee was set up in September.

    “The report dwelt extensively on an export promotion plan geared towards achieving governments’ policy on the “zero oil Plan.

    “The Committee recommended, among other things, the establishment of a National Committee on Export Promotion, chaired at the Presidency level.

    “It also recommended the setting up of a  Technical Committee involving federal and states MDAs to help provide technical information and direction to the proposed committee.

    “The Ad-hoc Committee further  recommended that Export procedures and documentation be streamlined with  the identification of existing domestic investors and engagement plan for output expansion.

    He said the committee also recommended the establishment of more laboratories and testing centres to help improve quality and standard of export and the domestication of the Office of Technical Regulation (OTR) as recommended by UNIDO.

    On market for Nigeria’s products, he said the committee recommended the deepening of commercial diplomacy, one-stop shops for export and a National Export Portal to generate global orders to link suppliers to buyers

    “On Value Chain Development, the Committee recommended the development of clusters along product value chain, market driven research and development and the provision of seeds and seedlings.

    “The committee recommended the recapitalization of NEXlM Bank, the provision of Export Development Fund in line with NEPC Act, a five-year financial window on export expansion grant and funding scheme for exporters similar to the CBN Anchor Borrowers programme.

    NAN

  • Export committee targets $150bn revenue

    Export committee targets $150bn revenue

    The National Committee on Export Promotion ( NCEP ) says it is targeting 150 billion dollars revenue through Zero Oil Plan (ZOP) initiative.

    Mr Olusegun Awolowo, Executive Director of Nigerian Export Promotion Council ( NEPC ) and member of the committee disclosed this to newsmen at the end of the committee’s meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

    Awolowo said that the revenue would be earned in a period of 10 years and would be used to strengthen the country’s foreign reserve.

    He said that the committee had the task to aggregate all issues affecting export in the country and make recommendation to the Federal Government.

    “The constitution of the committee seeks to replace oil as the source of foreign exchange earner by growing non-oil exports from present five billion dollars to 30 billion dollars by year 2020.

    “The objective of the plan is to further add extra 150 billion dollars (minimum) to Nigeria’s foreign reserves cumulatively from no-oil exports over the next 10 years.

    “We will create at least 500, 000 additional jobs annually due to increase in productive and export activities as well as lift at least 10 million Nigerians out of poverty,’’ he said.

    According to Awolowo, the committee is expected to submit an initial report on Nov.16, 2017.

    He said that the committee’s terms of reference were to aggregate all the issues and recommendations as highlighted in the various initiatives on diversification of Nigeria’s economy.

    Others are to consult with the states for their input on the subject and draw up a workable plan to enhance export promotion.

    On his part, Gov. Mohammed Abubakar of Jigawa, who is the Chairman of the committee, said that the committee would work with state governments to actualize it objectives.

    According to him, all issues currently facing the country’s export will be adequately addressed.

    “Non-oil export growth is the only way forward for a sustainable development,’’ he said.

    Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President and Chairman, National Economic Council ( NEC ), inaugurated the committee a few days ago at the 80th meeting of NEC in Abuja.

    NAN

  • States seek take over of Federal roads

    States seek take over of Federal roads

    To revive the near total collapse of most federal roads across the country, states governors on Thursday urged the Federal Government to hand over such roads to them.

    This was one of the major resolutions adopted by the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    NEC comprises of the Governors of the 36 states of the Federation, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and some Ministers.

    Council members expressed concern over issues of roads construction, damage and maintenance and suggested that the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing should come up with strategies to regulate the weight of heavy duty vehicles plying the roads as this may be responsible for road damage and collapse.

    Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, while briefing State House correspondents after the NEC meeting said the Governors were disturbed by the state of the roads and urged the federal government to hand over the roads for repairs.

    He noted that already discussions were on amongst the states to collaborate with investors and fix the roads on Public private partnerships arrangement which will allow states toll such roads to recover funds expended on them.

    He said “We are highly concerned about the failure of our roads, even after fixing the roads, they would collapse with six months and we identified that the over loading is one of the major factor because in road design you take an axial load.

    “Most of the time you don’t use an axial load of more than 35 tonnes but we have noticed that a lot of our trucks carrying majorly fuel do 45,60,70 tonnes and that’s a major concern to state governors and we said that the minister for works and housing should come up with a strategy to regulate the weight of heavy trucks plying the roads which have been fingered as the root causes of road collapse.

    “The state governors are very much concerned about these failures, its being agitating our minds and we are thinking about strategies and we are soliciting that federal government give out some of the federal roads to states so that states can fix the roads through investors and toll the roads and we believe strongly that it will be more effective because the number of federal roads that is being handled by federal government there is no amount of budget that can fix it but if some of these roads are given out to state government and they maintain a handful of it and ofcourse the budgeted funds” he said

    Council therefore resolved that interested States could write to the President requesting approval for States to take over some of the Federal Roads to ensure proper and efficient maintenance.

    NEC also expressed willingness to take a wholistic approach on the issue of such roads across the country.

    He said “The Minister of Finance had earlier made a presentation on special accounts of the federation and gave us the closing balances.”

    It was revealed that Stabilization Account Balance as at 26 September 2017 stand at N4.354,300,295,64k

    Development of Natural Resources Account balance as at 26 Sept. stand at N84.693,588,214,54k, while Excess Crude Account balance as at 22nd of sept stand at $2,309,577,899.02

    “You know there was a gentleman agreement entered into between the Minister of Finance in the NEC and the 35 governors and Lagos is not participating and that is a programme we call budget support and the agreement was because of the down turn of economic challenges that endangers a number of states not being able to pay salaries”

    “So, we came to understanding that every month the total sharable revenue in the federation account any time it is less than N600billion then the Minister of Finance will give each state budget support, we concluded that in the last twelve months and that continued for the second year, states have done very well some states have been able to pay their accumulated salary debts and then also increase their commitment to infrastructure and generation of revenue”

    “From July that was not paid and in the month of August I think about seven states were paid because according to the minister other states did not comply with the set down rules, the most outstanding of that was the non remittance of virety from the states, so those seven states have been paid but more states have complied but we requested that those states that have complied should be paid.”

    “The good news is that in the month of September the shareable amount is N630billion so there would be no budget support for the states.” he said

  • NEC approves community policing, security operatives/intelligence agencies’ synergy

    NEC approves community policing, security operatives/intelligence agencies’ synergy

    The National Economic Council (NEC) has recommended the implementation of community policing and collaboration between security operatives and intelligence community for prompt response to crimes, especially terrorism.

    This is contained in the highlights of the deliberations of its Security Summit last Thursday issued by the Mr Laolu Akande, the Spokesman to the Vice President on Sunday.

    The Summit, presided over by the chair of NEC and then Acting President, also urged prompt action in the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of terrorist acts, kidnapping and purveyors of hate speeches.

    The presidential directive to the Inspector-General of Police initiating community policing is pursuant to provisions of section 215(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended and section 10(1) of the Police Act Cap. P19, LFN 2004.

    He said the retreat highlighted the need for a more effective coordination between the security and intelligence agencies to build a security community that was well synergized.

    He said the meeting noted that without the synergy optimal performance of different security and intelligence agencies might be difficult.

    “The retreat discussed concerns about the delay in the entire criminal justice system and NEC members concluded that prompt action by law enforcement agencies was imperative.

    “To facilitate this, NEC advocated the designation of special courts through collaboration of judicial and executive arms of the Federal and State Governments.

    “The participants agreed that FG should help States to develop a template on how such special courts would be established, and managed,” he said.

    NEC members recognized that the conflict between farmers and herdsmen were essentially a problem of land use, which had however taken an ethnic and religious coloration.

    It was agreed that both the FG and States needed to properly define the problems and eschew the ethno-religious construction of what was otherwise an economic challenge.

    NEC members stated that it would be useful bringing the different herdsmen and the farmers together to discuss and also work out some of the issues that concern them.

    The NEC also criticized hate speech and adopted the directive by the federal government that the issue would be regarded as an act of terror and punished as such.

    Akande added that NEC noted that hate speech was retrogressive and constituted a threat to national unity.

    “On the funding of security agencies, NEC agreed that it was key especially with respect to the provision of equipment.

    “It, however, noted that defense budget and funding for other security agencies of government always formed some of the biggest component of the budget and called for greater accountability of the budget.

    Akande quoted Osinbajo  thanking members of the Council for their “patience and commitment to this whole process, saying it was “not surprising at all because every State Government as you know must be primarily concerned with security”.

    The retreat also commended the Armed Forces, Police and other uniformed forces for their extraordinary professionalism and dedication to the enforcement of law and order, despite the obvious challenges.

  • FG approves Digital Literacy Council

    FG approves Digital Literacy Council

    The Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu said the federal goverment has approved the establishment of a Digital Literacy Council of Nigeria.

    Shittu made this known on Tuesday in Lagos at the 2017 Digital Citizenship Summit Nigeria.

    He said that Digital Literacy Council was for the development of a National Policy on Digital Literacy.

    According to him through the National Policy, appropriate digital literacy guidelines and standards in Nigeria will be promoted.

    “The Council is expected to develop a National Digital Literacy Policy and Strategic Action Plan for the implementation of this initiative, as well as identify and harness opportunities for partnerships.

    “This is in order to provide digital literacy services to Nigerian citizens, irrespective of their geographical location within the country.

    “The council’s decisions will be implemented by the Digital Literacy Management Committee under the leadership of the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

    “The council is already deliberating on its operational methods,” he said.

    Shittu said that digital literacy was beneficial because it was a requirement for an individual to be competitive and be best prepared for today’s business world of advanced technology.

    According to him, it makes learning faster, allows everyone to study at his own pace, lookup words, data, facts, figures

    “It saves hours per month for tasks that could only be done offline, and a means to employment because most jobs today require some form of computer literacy,” he said.

    The minister said that the National Economic Council (NEC) had approved a policy to harmonise Right of Way charges payable by telecommunications companies and related public utility infrastructure on Local Governments, States and Federal Highways.

    He said that the policy would minimize the spaces occupied, burden on the roads and reduce taxes payable by the telecommunications operators.

    “On our part, we are ready to liaise with states and relevant stakeholders for the smooth implementation of the Right of Way project.

    “In present day’s high-tech world, digital literacy is a requirement for an individual to be competitive and be best prepared for today’s business world of advanced technology.

    “It is the ability to understand and use information in multiple formats from a wide range of sources when it is presented via computers.

    “It came to the fore in the last decade with the advent of platforms and apps that have changed the way our world works.

    “There are numerous digital applications that we cannot do without them today such as, Mobile Money transactions, e-verification apps that allow people to verify the authenticity of drugs and other products.

    “There are also e-learning, online transactions, Health, Education, Banking, workforce, bills payments, among others,” Shittu said.

  • NEC approves telecommunication right of way charges’ harmonization 

    NEC approves telecommunication right of way charges’ harmonization 

    The National Economic Council (NEC) on Thursday approved a policy to harmonize right of way charges payable by the telecommunications companies and related public utility infrastructure on Local Governments, States and Federal Highways.

    The Minister of Communication Adebayo Shittu briefed State House correspondents at the end of the NEC chaired by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He was with Abia State Governor Okieza Ikpeazu, Minister of Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, and Minister of State Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed.

    Shittu said that the new policy will encourage co-location of the companies’ fibre optic cables.

    Just like the telecommunication masts which were harmonised after long years of defacing the environment, he said, that the government wants to do the same for the laying of fibre optic cables which is becoming a burden on the Nigerian roads.

    According to him, the trend is causing high cost tariffs due to multiple taxes charged telecommunication companies by the Federal, States and local governments.

    The new policy, he said, will minimise the spaces occupied, burden on the roads and reduce taxes payable by the telecommunication firms.

    He said “The memo spelt out roles/responsibilities of LGCs, States and telecommunication operators in the management of Right of Way (ROW) issues.

    “Most States are still charging different and higher rates, despite NEC’s resolution that mandate States to adopt and implement Federal Ministry of Works guidelines for grant of Right of Way to ICT service on Highways.

    “Current practice in Nigeria where various telecommunication operators design, survey, dig, deploy and manage their individual fibers networks amounts to duplication of efforts, multiple earthworks and treaches as well as increased administrative and licensing costs.

    “The Memo invited all stakeholders to consider, adopt and approve the use of shared duct strategy, managed by a designated Agency in all tiers of government for the deployment of public utility infrastructure for effective and efficient service delivery and accelerated socio economic development of the country, particularly the transformation of our various cities, towns and villages to a smart status.

    “Council asked the Ministry of Communication to liaise with the States and relevant stakeholders for the smooth implementation of the Right of Way project.” he said

    Enelamah said that he made a presentation to Council on reforming Nigeria at the Subnational level, emphasizing the need to bring Enabling Business Environment Reforms to all tiers of Government and all Nigeria.

    He informed the Council that there is a strong correlation between Ease of Doing Businesses Ranking and Economic prosperity.

    According to him, the Businesses Enabling Environment Agenda being coordinated by the Presidential Enabling Businesses Council is at the heart of Government Agenda, and has the following mandate:

    “Removed critical bottlenecks and bureaucratic constraints to doing businesses in Nigeria, aimed at moving the country upwards in global businesses ranking.

    “Areas of focus in removing the bottlenecks include; starting a business, entry and exit of people, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, paying taxes, trading across borders and the ease of getting construction permits.”

    The Minister also informed the Council that the 4th subnational Doing Business rankings for Nigeria is scheduled for 2018, with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd having taken place in 2008, 2010 and 2014 respectively.

    He said that appropriate templates are already being drawn up to prepare States for the exercise.

    He said that the Council was also informed that a National Steering Committee has already been constituted to ensure synergy across all stakeholders to ensure the coordinated delivery of the reform objectives.

    The Council, he said, urged his Ministry to work with an already existing Committee being chaired by the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning in this regard.

    From the presentation by the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning on NEC Resolution Implementation Monitoring 2016/2017 Report, Ahmed said that the Council urged the States to liaise strongly with the Federal Government in the task of National Planning and Development.

    Abia State Governor said that the
    Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, briefed Council on the balances in the following accounts as at 19th July, 2017:

    “Excess Crude Account (ECA) $2.303 billion, Ecological Fund Account – N27.466 billion, Stabilization Account – N2.553 billion, and Development of Natural Resources Account – N77.922 billion.

    Talking points released by the NEC Secretariat also revealed that Gombe State Governor presented a report to the Council on Forensic Audit of Revenue Accrued from Revenue Generating Agencies (RGAs) into Federation Account (FA), Excess Crude Account (ECA) and Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF)

    “The Acting President welcomed the Interim Report and noted that Council will await the outcome of the final report and then discuss the Report.”

    “The EL-Rufai led AD-Hoc committee of the Council on Ecological fund set up by the NEC April, 2017 today submitted its report to Council, recommending among other things a robust governance structure and a stringent disbursement criteria to sanitize the management of the fund.

    “The committee made the following recommendations: That disbursement of the fund should be based on the following criteria;

    “Physical visitation by the Ecological office team and on the spot assessment and verification of the ecological disaster.

    “Technical evaluation of the disaster by experts, Community involvement, Prior to the disaster, there must be evidence of Advocacy, Evidence of existing prompt, Emergency response mechanism in place before the disaster, Monitoring and Evaluation framework must be built into the application of Ecological fund as a road map for measuring performance of the fund.

    “A feedback team that will review the reports of the disbursement must be in place, Adequate publicity of Ecological disaster to create awareness and consciousness in the citizenry to avoid future occurrence is necessary, Evidence of cost estimate must be attached to application, Adequate justification for the project must be given.

    “Due process in vendor engagement must be followed, At all times 50% of the FG share or N20 billion must be reserved for emergencies at the discretion of Mr President.

    “Council commended the El-Rufal Committee for the painstaking job and noted that the Federal Government will consider the recommendations.”

    The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, informed the Council of the overriding need to return the budget cycle to the January – December calendar year.

    “That the 2018 – 2020 MTEF is anchored on the ERGP. The current Global Economic outlook posited that the country is expecting growth, though there are still some challenges that may impact negatively on growth from now till 2020.

    “He listed policy changes in the US and Britain’s exit from EU, the climate change issue, oil price fluctuations as some of the uncertainties. Assured that the country is already getting out of recession even as oil prices are still sliding. The non-oil sector is growing.

    “Recoveries being recorded in Manufacturing, Agriculture and Services. Efforts aimed at achieving peace in Niger Delta yielding fruits.

    ERGP key objectives and the execution priorities will get country back to growth.” it stated

     

  • Jonathan tackles El-Rufai over Ecological Fund

    Jonathan tackles El-Rufai over Ecological Fund

    …Says El-Rufai lied

     

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday disagreed with Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai over how the Ecological fund was utilized under his administration.

    El-Rufai on Thursday after the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja had claimed that Jonathan gave N2 billion each from the Ecological fund to PDP states without any emergency or ecological needs.

    But Jonathan on Friday replied that El-Rufai has an incurable knack for lying, which he said has been proven by El-Rufai’s boss, former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Jonathan, in a statement by his Media Adviser Ikechukwu Eze, said that Obasanjo had described El-Rufai in his book-My Watch Volume 2 as follows: “Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological. Why does he do it? He is brilliant and smart. I grant him that also. Very
    early in my interaction with him, I appreciated his talent and brilliance. At the same time, I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir el-Rufai. He barefacedly lied which he did to me against his colleagues and so-called friends. I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who was like, in the African setting, his foster father. I shuddered when I
    heard the story of what he did to his half-brother in the Air Force who is senior to him in age.”

    With such a description, the statement said Jonathan was not surprised at El-Rufai’s recent comments after the just concluded National Economic Council meeting where he
    accused former President Jonathan of only sharing the National Ecological Fund to PDP States.

    El-Rufai had said “What President Goodluck Jonathan did was to take N2bn each from the
    Ecological Fund and gave to some PDP states. Any PDP state that was not his friend, like Kano and Kwara, didn’t get.”

    Jonathan’s spokesman said “It is so easy to expose Malam Nasir El-Rufai as a liar being that
    Akwa-Ibom, a PDP state governed by the then Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and a close confidante and major supporter of the then President, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, did not get the monies alluded to by Malam El-Rufai from the Ecological Fund as did multiple
    other PDP states including Ekiti state, a state governed by a thoroughbred patriot and Jonathan supporter, Ayo Fayose.

    “Also, it is false that non-PDP states did not get monies from the fund. Nemesis catches up faster with liars than any other agent of evil.  El-Rufai was probably led by the gods against his own sinister plot to confess in another breathe that States under non-PDP parties like APGA and Labour party also benefitted.

    “The fact remains that the Ecological Fund is a specialized fund with certain constitutional requirements which must be met before a state can access the funds. Every state benefitted from the fund under President Jonathan who bent over backwards to accommodate states that
    had difficulty meeting the criteria for accessing the fund.

    “El-Rufai’s sinister narrative was intentionally silent on the over N10 billion specially deployed to fund  the Great Green Wall (GGW) project in some northern states, in view of the need to work with the rest of Africa on the African initiative to check desert encroachment in the
    Sahelian states. These states included Zamfara, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina and Adamawa.

    “Others are Yobe, Borno and Kano which belong to Mallam El-Rufai’s class of ‘non-friendly’ states that he alleged never benefitted from any discretionary fund.

    “Similar principle applies to the conditions for accessing the Universal basic Education fund where some states have not had access to what is due them, because they are yet to fulfill the mandatory criteria for allocation. Would it then be right in the name of El-Rufai’s position on equity to blame the failure of those states to access their UBEC funds on Jonathan?

    He said that it is really sad that judicious presidential interventions to tackle emergencies and other pressing national needs are being interrogated in a rather facile manner, by those who never got tired of playing dirty politics.

    He urged Nigerians to recall that it was not the first time that El-Rufai has vented his known passion for lying against the former President.

    “The public will recall that in October 2015 he falsely alleged that former President Jonathan spent a whopping N64 billion on Independence Day celebrations, during his tenure when in fact only N333 million was spent.

    “Nigerians may also recall that this same El-Rufai falsely accused former President Jonathan and former CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor of founding and funding Boko Haram to the tune of N50 billion.

    “We can only wonder what new false accusation El-Rufai may come up with tomorrow, as with him it is a case of one day, one lie!

    “We therefore urge Nigerians to “be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” whenever this notorious liar opens his mouth,” he stated.

     

  • FG to pay N2 billion Ecological fund each to 19 states, FCT

    FG to pay N2 billion Ecological fund each to 19 states, FCT

    …NEC to review Land Use Act

     

    The National Economic Council (NEC) next month may approve payment of N2 billion each from the Ecological Funds to 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the NEC meeting chaired by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, said that the disbursement is part of recommendations of his committee’s interim report submitted to NEC on Thursday.

    Stressing that the recommendation was to ensure fairness to states that were not given anything when former President Goodluck Jonathan shared N2 billion each to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) controlled states from the Ecological Funds.

    According to him, his 11-man committee, which comprised of governors, Minister of Finance and some permanent secretaries, will submit the final report during NEC meeting in June, where NEC will decide on the recommendation.

    The committee, he said, was asked to look at the operations and management of the one per cent which the Federal Government shares.

    He said “The committee established beyond all doubts that in 2013, the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan gave N2 billion to certain states of the federation but excluded other states.

    “The states that got it were all PDP states and states of other parties that were sympathetic to the PDP like Labour Party in Ondo and APGA in Anambra State. 19 states and the FCT did not get the N2 billion from the Ecological Fund.

    “These states are Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Borno, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Kwara and Lagos.

    “Others are Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory

    “So essentially what President Goodluck Jonathan did was to take N2 billion each from the Ecological fund and give to some PDP states. Any PDP state that was not his friend like Kano and Kwara didn’t get. And all the other opposition party, like no ACN state got anything, no ANPP state got anything.

    “This, the committee of the council consider discriminatory and recommended that the 19 states and the FCT that did not get the N2 billion in 2013 be given N2 billion each to level the playing field.

    “Thereafter very clear criteria for accessing the fund will be recommended to the council for the consideration of the federal government,” he said.

    According to him, there is a Presidential directive that the Ecological Fund office must maintain a balance of N20 billion out of the present N33.6 billion in the Ecological Fund.

    This, he said, is to cater for any emergency or any natural disaster requiring intervention.

    From the total money in the fund, he said that the balance of about N13 billion will be available for distribution to the states that were discriminated against.

    “As I said, 19 states and the FCT making it 20, so it isn’t enough to give them N2 billion each.” he added

    He went on “So what we did was to give an interim report on how the entire ecological fund has been utilized from May 2010 till date. And we realize that a lot of the deployment of the funds was based on discretion of the President and there is need to establish very clear criteria for the use of the 65 per cent of the federal government share among the states of the federation.

    “But the committee recommended to make partial payment to these states that were discriminated against by President Jonathan. Council defied decision on that until we submit out final report which will be submitted to NEC in the meeting of June.

    “The council appreciated the enormous work the committee did and particularly appreciated the permanent secretary of the Ecological Fund office for providing detailed information about the operations of the Fund.” he stated

    He pointed out that the N2 billion each given to the states by the former President was purely on discretionary basis and not on any identified Ecological problem or any project request.

    According to him, it was given to favoured states not based on criteria or any request based on emergency.

    “It was just a handout to favoured states and other states that were not so favoured were discriminated against.

    “So our committee recommended that to level the playing field every state be treated equally, the federal government should give those states that did not get.

    “My state got because my state was governed by the PDP and was very friendly with Jonathan. In my state the amount was used to do some Ecological projects but in some states the money simply vanished. But in my state, it didn’t vanish. The projects were done, we are looking into those projects because the prices did not look right, the quality in one or two cases is not the best but some projects were done.

    “So we are saying in fairness the other states that did not get this N2 billion on discretionary basis should be done. This is why President Buhari is here to right the wrongs of the past,” he said.

    Bauchi Governor, Mohammed Abubakar said that the Council received the report of an Ad-Hoc committee set up by NEC to study the report of the Presidential Technical Committee of the Land Use Act regulations.

    He said “The presidential committee submitted its report on 26th of September last year. As a result of that the Nigeria Governors Forum set up its own committee comprising Surveyor General of the states of the federation of Nigeria to study that report of the presidential technical committee and come up with recommendations.

    “So when NEC received the report of the committee, an adhoc committee of six was set up with myself as chairman to study both the report of the technical committee and report of the Forum of Surveyor general of the federation and then compare the two reports and make recommendations to council.

    “The reason for setting up the technical committee at the onset was because of the encumbrances being faced in the interpretations given in the Land use Act over time from the time of promulgation in 1978 to date.

    “So the adhoc committee studied the two reports and made recommendations to council.

    “The main basis of the recommendation was the observance of true federalism. You know despite the various interpretations and comments made about the Land Use Act as a unitary law, actually the Land Use Act for the first time is one Act of the federal government that has made a categorical statement with respect to federalism by conferring control over land in the governors of the states and not a unitary system where the federal government will now control land. So this was what the adhoc committee had in mind when it was making its recommendations along with the presidential committee.

    “So at the end of the day all the recommendations that tended to temper with the powers of the governors over control of lands in the state were expunged from the report of the presidential technical committee.

    “Council finally received the report of the adhoc committee favourablly, in fact Council gave another assignment to that ad committee with a view to looking at areas of conflict in the Land Use Act and the minerals Act. There are situations whereby companies will come to Abuja to the Mining Casdastal and obtain license to prospect for minerals in the state. And the go and immediately commence prospecting without minding the fact that it been granted to some other people by governors who have control over land with certificates of occupancy. So this led to a lot of conflicts. So council has extended the life of this adhoc committee to look into this with a view to making recommendations.

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha said that the Council also reviewed many money issues as it affects the nation.

    He said “We were made to understand from the office of the Accountant General that the excess crude account as at May 24th stands at $2.3 billion. Council also reviewed the discrepancies in figures and we have said that the Accountant General will go to look at it and at the next meeting he will brief the council appropriately.

    “As regards the loan support what is called the budget support facility for states which is suppose to come to an end by the end of this month, council was concerned about the fact that we are gradually coming out of recession and if this budgetary support ceases at the end of May, it might create some lapses in our bid to stabilize the economy. So council resolved that the budgetary support be extended to enable states catch up with the economy challenges of the moment.

    “The good news is that we have been reliably informed that crude production at Forcados terminal will soon commence and this will in any small way help the  economy and the stabilization of the economy and for us to get out of recession as quickly as possible.

    “But the highlight of the whole discussion today’s was a special commendation that the Council made on the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who we have all resolved to call a systems stabilizer given the fact that Mr. President is on medical vacation, the system is still as smooth as it has always been. So, we commended the Acting President for a job well done.”

    He maintained that the Paris Club refund was not a free money, but money owed state governments.

     

  • Wheelbarrow: Jealous opponents blackmailing me – Ortom 

    Wheelbarrow: Jealous opponents blackmailing me – Ortom 

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom on Thursday said that his political opponents jealous of his achievements are blackmailing him towards 2019 elections over wheelbarrow distribution in the state.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Ortom said that such opponents are latching on rumour in attempt to diminish his rising profile.

    He said that it was regrettable that deliberate lies were being told against him by people scheming to gain advantage in the run up to 2019 general election.

    On the accusations of disturbing wheelbarrows for empowerment, he said: “That is outright falsehood. There is no iota of truth. It is meant to scandalize, blackmail and to reduce my rising profile in Benue because of achievements we have recorded during these two years.

    “When you hear the likes of David Mark, who are supposed to be an elder statesman, go to make false propaganda against people who are supposed to be his subjects, I used to regard him as an elder, but it’s unfortunate he is telling lies.

    “Those wheelbarrows were brought to us by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to be distributed to displaced people who need them.

    “They actually need those wheelbarrows and they were given to the state emergency relief body for onward distribution to the victims. And for whatever reasons, the agency wrote my name that I was distributing it.

    “But as soon as that was drawn to my attention, I refuted it and I said this is not my property.

    “In empowerment, I have several programmes for the youth and this one is not meant for the youths. It was distributed to displaced people.

    “So, it was just meant to blackmail me because PDP in Benue are still dreaming, including David Mark, that I am governor and I won election.

    “I left them (PDP) because of the injustice they did to me and I came to APC and found a platform. The people accepted me and I won. They are out to blackmail me and it will not work because there is no iota of truth.”

    On the jealous opponents, he said “Of course, they have been propagating that they want to take over the leadership in 2019 but I think they are just dreaming because even when it was pepper, I was able to finish the food, how much more now that it’s with chicken and sesame seed.  You know it’s easier to eat and the people we are working with, we have gotten more support.

    “More people have decamped from the PDP to the APC. So, where will they go? The local government elections is coming up on June 3. I want them to come up and compete.

    “It’s unfortunate that even to present candidates, there are factions and up till today.

    “I am told that they have six candidates out of the 23 local governments. It is their problem. They should go and sort out their own problem. All I am concerned is to bring development to my people.” he said

    Ortom said that he has invited former Senate President, David Mark, to a meeting where he presented his administration’s second year scorecard but he declined, adding that other Benue citizens however applauded his effort.

    He said: “On the 22 May, I invited all Benue stakeholders, David Mark was invited and I was given standing ovation. That alone is an indication that Benue people are pleased with me in all sectors despite all the challenges especially in funding.

    “I have cleared arrears of salaries. These people are just jealous, David Mark is jealous and all his cohorts are jealous. They have left Benue State and went to Rivers and met and came and disturb us in Benue State. Let them come to Benue State.” he added

    He maintained that his problem with Mark was not about a quarrel but spreading of falsehood, adding however that he would take any opportunity to discuss the issue over with the former Senate president.

    He said “I don’t think it’s about quarrel. For a very senior citizen of that level to spread falsehood and tell lies against his governor when I invited them to stakeholders meeting where my two year scorecard was delivered to my people and they accepted it and appreciated what we are doing and he refused to come only to go to Rivers and be telling lies against me, It’s unfortunate.

    “Anytime I have the opportunity I think we will discuss things over,” he stated.

    It would be recalled that while commissioning some projects executed by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state recently, Mark had alluded to the fact that while Wike was commissioning roads, some state governors were busy distributing wheelbarrows to their citizens.

     

  • FG wants industrial status of Kano back

    Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, Minister of Budget and National Planning, has advised the Kano State Government to restore the industrial status of the state as major commercial hub.

    Udoma gave the advice in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Akpandem James, in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Udoma said this at the Second Kano Economic and Investment Summit in Kano City.

    He said that Nigerians would like to see the state returned to its former status as a major industrial and commercial hub in the country.

    The minister noted that under Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje, the State has continued to pursue economic policies and programmes aimed at improving the lives of the people, with particular emphasis on education and infrastructure development.

    “The Federal Government desires to see a quick restoration of the boom days that characterised Sharada, Bompai and other industrial estates in Kano.

    “There is no doubt that Kano’s leather craftsmen are some of the best in the world.

    “We must provide the enabling environment for the leather industry to grow and become a mark of quality recognised worldwide”, he said.

    The minister said that funds had been provided in the 2017 Federal Budget to provide infrastructure for the revival of the Free Trade Zone in Kano to stimulate industrial activity.

    He said that fund had equally been provided for the revival of the Export Expansion Grant by way of tax relief, as a further incentive to exporters.

    On the theme of the Summit, “Transforming the Economy of Kano: Turning Challenges into Opportunities”, he said it aligned with Federal Government’s effort in addressing difficulties and challenges of economy.

    “On our part, as the Federal Government, we have been working very closely with the state governments, particularly through the monthly meetings of the National Economic Council (NEC).

    “We have been working with NEC to ensure complete alignment in our economic programmes.

    “And of course, as you all know the ERGP was developed with the extensive consultations of the States.

    “This is one Federal Government that believes that we must work very closely with the states”, he said.

    Meanwhile, Former Minister of National Planning and Chairman of the Summit Planning Committee, Dr Shamsudeen Usman, decried the reluctance of Northern governors to constitute the region into a viable economic zone in spite of available resources.

    He said it was not too late to do so as other regions of the country were consolidating on the efforts they started some years ago.

    Usman was, however, optimistic that the Kano summit would ginger up activities in the state and region with the right political will.