TheNewsGuru

Tag: FEC

  • Why we can’t resume Abuja-Kaduna train service now – Transport Minister

    Why we can’t resume Abuja-Kaduna train service now – Transport Minister

    The Minister of Transportation, Umar Sambo has said the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) cannot resume operations on the Abuja-Kaduna railway service following the March 2022 attack on the train, stressing that two issues were delaying the resumption.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Sambo, who made this known while fielding questions following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja.

    While disclosing that the council approved N1.4 billion for the purchase of spare parts and repairs of a crane of the NRC, Sambo said the crane, which plays a vital role in carrying out activities of the corporation, was now broken down and needs to be fixed.

    “Today, I had the privilege of presenting before the council, a memorandum from the Ministry of Transportation on behalf of one of its agencies, the Nigeria Railway Corporation, for the purchase of spare parts and to undertake the repairs and overhaul of one of its critical cranes.

    “Council considered the memorandum, because this crane is required by the Corporation for emergency repairs of its rolling stock; it has broken down and therefore needs to be fixed.

    “Approval was given in the total sum of N1, 491, 065, 722.72 inclusive of 7.5 percent VAT, with a completion period of 12 months,” he said.

    Speaking on the two issues delaying the resumption of the train service, Sambo the issues included families traumatized over their family members still in captivity of terrorists and the need to have surveillance facilities to monitor the tracks.

    According to him, the government was looking at the best options in terms of the surveillance, including to concession it in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

    On the exact timeline to execute the initiative, the minister said: “If I give a timeline, I’ll be lying to you. It will be insensitive to restart the service if some families weep day and night over their family members still in the bush”.

    The minister said the government was mindful of the cost involved, but should be able to report definite progress in about a month.

    Also, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammed Bello, disclosed that FEC has approved N718 million for security services and surveillance of the Abuja light rail transportation system.

    He said: “I presented a memo at the Federal Executive Council meeting of today and it approved a contract for the provision of security services for the Abuja Light Rail Mass Transit System.

    “These companies are Messers Al-Ahali Security Guards Limited and Messers Seaguard Security and Protective Company Limited.

    “They are going to provide security to the entire 45 kilometers of track including 12 stations.

    “And these security services are meant to protect the key infrastructure on the rail tracks, the signaling and communication equipment as well as the electrical system.

    “Al-Ahali security guard Limited is going to secure 27.4 kilometres of the track, covering eight stations at the cost of N407, 214,000 over a two year period.

    “Seaguard Securities and Protective Company Limited is going to secure 18 kilometres of the rail tracks including four railway stations and that is at a cost of N310, 979,250.”

  • Osinbajo attends FEC meeting physically first time after surgery

    Osinbajo attends FEC meeting physically first time after surgery

    VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday physically attended the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Vice-President Osinbajo joined the meeting physically for the first time since he underwent surgery following an injury he sustained while playing squash.

    Osinbajo, who underwent the surgical operation on July 16 at the Duchess International Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, had been attending FEC meetings virtually from his official residence in Abuja while recuperating from the surgery.

    He was discharged from hospital on July 25 after successful surgery and rehabilitation and on August 3, the vice president virtually joined the cabinet meeting.

    Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a tweet, stated, “VP Osinbajo is physically attending the weekly Federal Executive Council today. He is grateful for all the get-well wishes sent by Nigerians and others from all walks of life since the surgical operation and the recuperation period. He intends to be getting up and doing more and more”.

    The vice-president had after his discharge from hospital, expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their good wishes.

    “My deep gratitude to everyone for your get-well wishes and prayers following my surgery. And special appreciation to the amazing team of surgeons, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and the management of the Duchess International Hospital, Lagos, for providing such excellent care. “God bless you all,” he said.

    Others in attendance at the meeting include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, retired Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno and the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan

    The Ministers of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Justice, Abubakar Malami; Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello, Communications and Digital, Isa Patanmi, Humanitarian, Disaster Management and Social Development Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, are also in attendance.

    Others are, Ministers of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare; Agriculture and Rural Development, Mahmood Abubakar; Aviation, Hadi Sirika; Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi and Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo.

    The Ministers of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba; Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ramatu Aliyu, Environment, Ademola Adegoroye and Education, Goodluck Nana-Opia are also physically attending the meeting.

    Other cabinet members are participating online from their respective offices in Abuja.

  • FEC approves N2.68 billion to beef up security in Abuja

    FEC approves N2.68 billion to beef up security in Abuja

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the sum of N2.68 billion for the procurement of utility vehicles and gadgets for security agencies operating in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    The council also approved 2.59 billion dollars for the development of Badagry Deep Seaport in Lagos State.

    Muazu Sambo, the Ministers of Transport,  and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammed Bello, disclosed this during an address with State House correspondents on the outcome of the council meeting on Wednesday, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

    According to Sambo, the Badagry project will be executed under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme, saying the private sector will inject money into the port and manage it for 45 years.

    He said: “I presented a memo at the council, with respect to the development of the Badagry Deep Seaport, under the public-private partnership arrangement, where the private sector will inject money for the development of the port and at the end of the concessionary period, the port reverts to the Nigerian government through the Nigerian Ports Authority.

    “The project as approved by the council based on the final business case as approved earlier by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission in line with extant laws, stands at $2.59 billion.

    “It is to be developed in four phases and the concessionary period is 45 years,” he stated.

    Sambo said the decision taken by the government would further its goal of making Nigeria the maritime hub of the West and Central African regions.

    According to him, the project will help Nigeria generate total revenue of 53.6 billion dollars over the concession period as well as create jobs and attract foreign direct investments, culminating with an enhancement of the wellbeing of Nigerians.

    On his part, the FCT minister revealed that the council approved N2.6 billion for the procurement of utility vehicles and gadgets for security agencies to combat criminal activities across all the six area councils of the FCT.

    He said: “Today, I presented a memo for the procurement of utility vehicles, security gadgets and accessories to support the security agencies operating within the Federal Capital Territory.

    “These items are 60 utility vehicles, including communication equipment to be installed in the vehicles, to be supplied at the cost of N1,835,108,613,.95 with a delivery period of two months.”

    He also revealed that the FCT administration also got approval for the procurement of more working tools for security agencies responsible for securing the territory.

    “In addition to that, the council also approved the supply of various security gadgets and accessories to support security agencies in the FCT at a total sum of N847,139,764.57,” he added.

    Bello said the support given to the security agencies was in line with the FCT administration’s policy of aiding their work, so as to enhance security within the territory.

    On recent attacks in some parts of the FCT, the minister assured residents that “there are tremendous efforts by all relevant authorities, to ensure that the FCT continues to enjoy lasting peace’’.

    Also addressing the correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed, revealed that council approved a new policy for the institutionalisation of the practice of monitoring and evaluation in Nigeria.

    According to her, the programme is to be known as the National Monitoring and Evaluation Policy.

    He added that the progromme would go a long way to help improve the wellbeing of citizens and socio-economic development of the country

    She said: “Today, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning presented a policy memo to Council and the memo is on the National Monitoring and Evaluation policy for the country.

    “The policy defines a framework for the institutionalisation of the practice of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) to promote good governance, learning and accountability for results that will contribute to improve socio-economic development of the country and enhance the well-being of citizens.

    “The policy clarifies how M&E should be conducted in the country; specify the position, institutional and financial arrangements and the modalities for feedback, especially from citizens so that decision makers can make effective use of evidence by government and stakeholders to inform policy strategies and investment.’’

    The minister added that the approved policy was developed in close collaboration with States of the Federation, development partners, academia and several experts as well as associations of monitoring and evaluation in Nigeria.

    On the reported donation of security vehicles to Niger Republic by the Federal Government, the minister said the donation was made in the spirit of African brotherliness and being your brother’s keeper.

    She said: “Over time, Nigeria has had to support its immediate neighbours to enhance their capacity to secure their countries as it relates to us. This is not the first time that Nigeria is supporting Niger, Cameroun or Chad.

    “The president makes an assessment as to what is required based on the request of their president, as such, the requests are approved and the interventions are provided, to enhance their capacity to protect their own territory as it relates to security also in Nigeria,” she said.

  • Why we’ve not had accrual to ECA in 4 years – Finance Minister

    Why we’ve not had accrual to ECA in 4 years – Finance Minister

    The Minister of Finance, Dr Zainab Ahmed has said in the past four years, because of volatility in the course oil market, Nigeria has not had accrual to the excess crude account (ECA).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Ahmed made this known when she addressed State House correspondents on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning had presented the draft copies of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework 2023-2025 to the Council for onward transmission to the National Assembly (NASS) for approval.

    According to the Finance Minister, the draft document is for 2023-2025, with an assumption for crude oil price of $70 per barrel for 2023, $66 for 2024 and $62 for 2025, with an estimated production rate of 1.69 million barrels per day for 2023 and 1.813 million barrels per day for 2024 and 2025.

    “The assumptions that we made for the next medium term framework from 2023 to 2025 is that crude oil price will be at $70 per barrel for 2023, $66 per barrel for 2024 and $62 per barrel for 2025.

    “Crude oil production is projected to be 1.69million bpd for 2023 and 1.813million bpd for both 2024 as well as 2025.

    “We have also projected on the nominal GDP, that the size of Nigeria economy will rise up to N225.5 trillion with 95 per cent of this contribution by the non-oil sector while the oil sector will contribute only five per cent.

    “And some steady increase from 2024 to reach up to N280.7 trillion in 2025. This means that Nigeria continues to retain its position as the largest economy in Africa.”

    Ahmed also said the 2022 budget till April, performed very well with a steady growth in the economy for five consecutive quarters.

    She said the ministry got inputs from the Federal Executive Council and would make the necessary adjustments, for onward presentation to the National Assembly.

    “On the issue of the excess crude account, in the past four years, because of volatility in the course oil market, we have not had accrual to the excess crude account.

    “So, what we have had has been gradually used up for different purposes and it is always used in consultation with the National Economic Council – that is the Governors because this is a Federation Account.

    “The last approval that was given by the council was the withdrawal of $1billion to enhance security.

    “We have been utilising that and the last trench of that has been finally released because deployment to security agencies are based on the contracts that are executed and it’s been used strictly for that security purpose.

    “So, the utilisation of the account is with the full knowledge of the governors,” she said.

    Also addressing the correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, said the Council approved N707. 9 million for the procurement of investigation tools for the Accident Investigation Bureau of the Nigerian Aviation Sector.

    According to him, the tool, when procured, will aid investigation, whenever an aircraft is involved in an accident in any part of the country.

    “The memo was for the deployment of an investigation tool by the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB). That tool permits the AIB to be able to record going-on in flights; God forbid, should there be a need to investigate an accident, or a serious incident and the tool will help them to do so.

    “That procurement is in the sum of N707, 962, 854. 83, an equivalent of 1, 506, 285.70 Euros, inclusive of 7.5 per cent Value Added Tax at the Central Bank’s exchange rate of N470 to a Euro, with a delivery period of 11 months,” he stated.

    Sirika also announced that the council approved the leasing of three aircraft by the country’s national carrier, called ‘Nigeria Air’ to enable it to commence operations on a date to be announced soon by government.

    “We have said in our outline business case, which was earlier approved, that we are starting with three aircraft for the first instance and then we progress.

    “We will have a mixture of Airbus and Boeings because every airline that will grow big uses the two. We will start with domestic flights and then we grow to become international and then we move to become regional and intercontinental.

    “There are challenges currently in our aviation industry but it is a global phenomenon and it will not last forever because aviation is a very resilient sector. Certainly we will overcome these problems,” he added.

  • BREAKING: Buhari reshuffles cabinet, newly-designated ministers assigned portfolios

    BREAKING: Buhari reshuffles cabinet, newly-designated ministers assigned portfolios

    President Muhammadu Buhari has reshuffled his cabinet and assigned portfolios to newly-designated ministers, with eleven (11) ministerial positions affected by the cabinet reshuffle.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports President Buhari assigned portfolios to the seven newly appointed ministers on Wednesday, charging them to serve the nation diligently and to maintain unalloyed loyalty to the country and office of the President.

    The President also announced the reassignment of portfolios in his cabinet, saying the new redeployment is aimed at reinvigorating certain sectors where the government desires to accomplish improved results.

    Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony, which preceded the virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the President said as his administration is now on the home-stretch of its second term, more work still needs to be done in diverse areas of the economy and national life.

    The newly appointed ministers and their portfolios are: Ikechukwu Ikoh, Minister of State, Science and Technology; Umana Umana, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs; Udi Odum , Minister of State, Environment; Ademola Adegoroye, Minister of State, Transport; Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub, Minister of State, Works and Housing; Goodluck Opiah, Minister of State, Education and Nkama Ekumankama, Minister of State, Health.

    The following ministers were re-assigned: Senator Adeleke Mamora, Minister of Science and Technology (formerly Minister of State, Health); Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, Minister of Transportation (formerly Minister of State, Works and Housing); Sharon Ikeazor, Minister of State, Niger Delta (formerly Minister of State, Environment) and Sen. Gbemisola Saraki, Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development (formerly Minister of State, Transportation).

    President Buhari urged the newest members of his cabinet to consult and collaborate with older cabinet colleagues and focus on driving key programmes already initiated by this administration.

    He also warned all members of the cabinet against corrupt practices, reiterating that public officers must be above board and those caught in corrupt practices would face the full wrath of the law.

    “I begin this address by welcoming on board, all newly sworn-in members of the Federal Executive Council. I also congratulate you because the process that you all passed through to reach this stage has been rigorous and meticulous.

    “The appointment of these new Ministers is in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which prescribes that the Federal Executive Council shall be made up of members from every state of the Federation.

    “I therefore urge you to consider your emergence out of millions of equally qualified Nigerians within the purview of selection from your State, as a call to duty which imposes the obligation to serve the nation diligently and presents to you the unique opportunity to work hard in service to the Government and the country.

    “At the valedictory session for six former Ministers that departed to pursue other political careers, I promised that their replacement shall be a matter of priority so that the business of governance would not experience delays or setbacks.

    “This administration has been in the saddle since 2015 and is now on the home-stretch of its second term, as the nation prepares for the 2023 general elections. All through, it has vigorously pursued the three main electoral objectives namely: Securing the nation; Diversifying & growing the economy as well as fighting corruption.

    “You are all coming on-board at this time with new energy, ideas, experiences and vigour, to join the existing team so that the implementation of policies, programs and projects associated with these electoral objectives would be escalated and accelerated.

    “There is still so much to be done for our country in the areas of infrastructure development, energy, access to finance, access to justice, technology and innovation, trade, agriculture, education and security. The list is inexhaustible,’’ he said.

    President Buhari urged the newly appointed ministers to be conscious that time is of the essence as they assume office.

    “As I assign you portfolios, therefore, I expect you to carefully study your sectors, take wise counsel, reach out to key stakeholders, consult and collaborate with older cabinet colleagues and focus on driving key programs already initiated by this administration. Above all, be loyal to your President and your country”.

    Underscoring the need for the old and new members of his Cabinet to work with common objectives of leaving indelible legacies for Nigerians and ending strongly with verifiable accomplishments, the President warned:

    You must resist bad counsel, resist temptation and be circumspect in your utterances and conduct. You must totally eschew corruption and be above board because if caught there will be no sacred cows,’’ he said.

    The President told the newly appointed ministers to await further communication on their appropriate Ministerial Mandates from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

    Prior to the commencement of the FEC meeting and swearing-in ceremony, the Council observed a minute of silence in honour of the Secretary-General of Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mohammed Barkindo, who died on Tuesday in Abuja.

  • FEC approves projects to shore up power supply

    FEC approves projects to shore up power supply

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved projects to shore up power supply across the country.

    Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, announced this after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Aliyu said that the projects were aimed at strengthening the capacity of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and shore up power supply in the country.

    “I presented two memos to council today which council has approved; the first memo council approved the award of contract for design, supply and installation of 1x60MBA, 132×33 KV transmission substation with associated 4×132 KV line bay extension at Hong Local Government in Adamawa in the sum of N6.5 billion,  consisting of two components. One is offshore and onshore.

    “ The offshore is 6.9 million dollars and the onshore is N3.3 billion at the CBN prevailing exchange rate and 7.5 per cent VAT; the delivery period is 24 months.

    “This seeks to raise the capacity of the supply around that area and it’s going to affect so many towns and villages, there’s a very important local government headquarters around that area.

    “It is going to affect Song which is a Local Government headquarters in Adamawa state;  Gombi is also another Local Government headquarters;  Garkida town and then Hong.

    “Then Mubi, Woba, Michika, Madagali. There is an existing 132 that passes through this area; so, what we’re doing now is to drop a substation there.

    “The hope is by the time all these interventions we are making on the grid, reaches up to 11,000 or there about, it will be able to withstand and take it off;  so, this is the intervention.’’

    The minister said that the second memo also was to procure power transformers and associated spare parts for TCN to be deployed to six locations.

    “One is to Aiyede in Oyo; Offshore component 1.8 billion dollars, the onshore is N98 million.

    `The second one is Gusau in Zamfara; the third one is Kankia in Katsina State; the next one is Minna, Niger; then the fifth one is to Okearo in Ogun.

    “The sixth one is in Damaturu, Yobe; this one is very peculiar because as you may be aware, for over one year, Maiduguri has not been enjoying full electricity.

    “We were able to take electricity supply through an old line of 33 KV which we repaired and restored and were able to take 10 megawatts to Maiduguri over 130 kilometers on a 33 single circuit.

    “We restored that around three to four months or thereabout; so they are enjoying but very little;  by the time the electricity reaches Maiduguri, it will drop to six or seven megawatts because of losses along the way.’’

    Aliyu said that the 330 taking power to Maiduguri was vandalised by insurgents.

    He said the ministry tried a number of times to restore it but the insurgents would go back and pull down the towers.

    “So, we now decided, in the main time to take electricity through the 33 KVA which they are enjoying but not as they may like it to be. It’s being rationed around the time.

    “So, we are currently procuring another 33 double circuit new one to Maiduguri along the same route.

    “So the idea is if someone tampers with it, it is easy to restore it within a day or two, unlike the bigger one which is the 330 which takes weeks or months to restore because it’s in the bush.

    “So, as it is now even the one that we have installed, we have been doing hide and seek, sometimes they will pull one two poles, we will repair and this is why we are doing this endeavour by the roadside; it is this to keep on restoring back.’’

    He said that at present, the contractor had returned to restore the main line, 330 that was vandalised some time back.

    The minister said that, in order to have enough electricity for Damaturu and environs from that substation in Damaturu, and take some to Maiduguri, the project would boost the capacity of Damaturu substation.

    “So, the sixth one which  is at the cost of  6.7 million dollars while the local component is N1.3 billion for  the Damaturu upgrade injection transformer.

    “So, the total approved for these is the dollar component as 22. 6 million dollars and the naira component is N5.1 billion and the council graciously approved the two memos,’’ he said.

  • FEC approves N8.3bn for police operational vehicles, equipment

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N8.3 billion for the purchase of operational vehicles and equipment for the Nigeria Police Force.

    The Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Dingyadi, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting presided by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    Dingyadi said the approvals also covered supply of drugs and medical equipment for police hospitals.

    “Today, the Federal Executive Council approved for the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) to award contracts for the supply of 82 operational vehicles, Toyota brand, for the efficient operation of Nigeria Police at the total cost of N2.2 billion.

    “We also had approval for supply of customised police raincoat for distribution to police across the country at the cost of N1.9 billion.

    “Also customised Police boots at the cost of N576 million; we also got approval for the supply of micro first aid kits for the police at the cost of N1 billion as well as customised instructional materials for the police colleges and schools at the cost of N664 million.

    “There is also the supply of drugs and medical equipment for police hospitals across the country at the cost of N2 billion; when you add all these projects, they will come up to N8.3 billion,’’ he said.

    The minister explained that the NPTF was set up as a special intervention fund to facilitate the improvement of the operations of Nigeria Police Force in the areas of equipment, training and welfare.

    On his part, the Minister of Power, Mr Abubakar Aliyu, said he presented three items to the council.

    He said that the first was a note to council on the ongoing projects.

    “The second one is a request for approval of a contract to supply and install emergency restoration system or 330KV and 132KV transmission line for ongoing rehabilitation works in Lagos at the sum of 968,000 dollars as the offshore component; the onshore component is N7.4 million.

    “The third item is variation on a subsisting contract of a sub-station in Katsina and Kano and the variation sum is only on the onshore component of the contract which has offshore and onshore components as usual with electricity contracts.

    “So, it is only affecting the onshore component due to escalation of construction materials within; and the sum is N445.3 million, and the subsisting contract amount as I told you the offshore is not affected.

    “The onshore, which was N939.4 million, has now moved to N1.9 billion and the council graciously approved,’’ he said.

  • FEC: Prof. Yemi Osinbajo presides over meeting

    Professor Yemi Osinbajo presided over the meeting of the Federal Executive Council(FEC) on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    In attendance at the council meeting were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.

    Other Ministers present at the meeting are those of Education, Adamu Adamu, Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, Labour, Chris Ngige, Police Affairs, Muhammadu Dingyadi and Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen.

    Others ministers present at the meeting are those of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar  Farouk, Health, Osagie Ehanire, Power, Abubakar Aliyu and Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu.

    Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva and his counterparts in Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora and Labour, Festus Keyamo are also at the meeting.

    At the last meeting on May 18, FEC approved N169.7billion for the reconstruction of four roads under the tax credit scheme.

  • Buhari to decide fate of ministers who shelved political ambitions – Lai Mohammed

    Buhari to decide fate of ministers who shelved political ambitions – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says President Muhammadu Buhari will determine the fate of those Ministers who shelved their political ambitions.

    The minister stated this when he fielded questions from State House correspondents after the weekly virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    The meeting was presided over by President Buhari at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

    Mohammed said he needed to confirm the position of things as regards the status of the returning cabinet members on whether they have been properly reabsorbed or otherwise.

    The minister said: “The other question about ministers returning or not going, I think you need to give me more time so that I can tell you exactly what the situation is.

    ”Right now, I need to cross-check. I need to confirm again from Mr President what the situation is. You see the final decision on who is going, who’s coming back, who’s not going lies with Mr. President”

    Newsmen reports that the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Abubakar Malami was physically present at the Council’s meeting on Wednesday, while the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen and Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva attended the meeting virtually from their various offices in Abuja.

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, who also rescinded his decision to participate in the forthcoming party’s primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was reported to be on an official visit to South Africa.

    Ngige is attending the International Labour Organization (ILO), global conference on Child Labour in Durban.

    Newsmen reports that President Buhari on May 13 met with the outgoing 10 ministers at a valedictory session in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The Ministers are those of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio; Science, Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu, State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva; Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.

    Others are the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development, Uche Ogah, the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen and the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Tayo Alasoadura.

    The Minister of State (Education), Emeka Nwajiuba, who had earlier tendered his resignation, was not present at the valedictory session.

  • FEC observes 1 minute silence in honour of ex-minister, Ige

    FEC observes 1 minute silence in honour of ex-minister, Ige

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday observed a minute silence in honour of former Minister of communications under Gen. Ibrahim Babangida regime, Olawole Ige, who died at 83.

    Newsmen reports that the meeting was presided over President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa Abuja.

    Thenewsguru.com reports that the family of Ige announced his death on May 9.

    Newsmen reports that those in attendance at the meeting are the Vice-President, Prof.Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha and the Head of the Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan.

    Others are the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, and National Security Adviser, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Munguno.

    Cabinet ministers at the council chamber include Justice and Attorney General, Abubakar Malami; the Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed;Power, Abubakar Aliyu; Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello; Aviation, Hedi Sirika and Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami.

    The Ministers of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi; Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, and Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama.

    Others are Minister of State for Health, Olorunimbe Mamora; Agriculture, Mustapha Shehuri and Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba.

    Newsmen reports that other cabinet members including the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen are participating in the meeting virtually from their respective offices in Abuja.