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Tag: NEC

  • Osinbajo presides over 4th virtual NEC meeting

    Osinbajo presides over 4th virtual NEC meeting

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday presided over a virtual meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting was the fourth virtual meeting as the nation complies with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) protocol on COVID-19 pandemic.

    The governors joined the virtual NEC from their respective states.

    At the last virtual meeting on Aug. 20, NEC disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the sum of N13 billion for the implementation of community policing in the country.

    It said the president’s gesture was borne out of his resolve to rejig the security architecture in the country and deliver a more effective policing.

    The Vice President, constitutionally, is the chairman of NEC which meets monthly to deliberate on the coordination of economic planning and programmes of various levels of government.

    NEC comprises the 36 state governors, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Minister of Finance, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and other relevant government officials whose duties hinged on the economy.

  • BREAKING: APC NEC dissolves Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee

    The Adams Oshiomhole led National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been dissolved.

    This formed part of decisions taken on Thursday at the meeting of the APC National Executive Council at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    The party took the decision to dissolve its NWC based on the recommendations of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The President also called for the immediate suspension of all pending litigations involving the party and its members, as well as the ratification of the party’s governorship primary election recently conducted in Edo State.

    He condemned the recent crisis within the party, stressing the need for members to enforce party discipline.

    President Buhari, therefore, appointed Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, to head the new Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee for the party.

    The governor was immediately sworn in at the meeting by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami.

    Details later…

     

  • Defiant Giadom insists ‘only NEC can resolve APC crisis’

    Former National Deputy Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Victor Gaidom on Monday said the only way out of the on-going leadership crisis in the party is convocation of National Executive Council (NEC).

    Speaking with newsmen at the National Secretariat of the party, the embattled APC leader said it was high time the party was handed over to higher organ since the lingering issus are beyond the National Working Committee (NWC).

    Asked what will be the way forward for the party, Gaidom said: “I have always insisted at the beginning of this crisis that the only way to resolve this issue is to surrender this party to a higher organ which is the best.

    “And I am still insisting that the only way to get ourselves out of this mess is to convoke a NEC meeting. That is the only route out, I have the feeling that there is no other route to have peace and justice in this party except through a NEC meeting that has been my decision.

    “There has to be a NEC meeting. NEC is the higher organ above the NWC, I do not see why they are afraid. You have to surrender this organ so that the right thing would be done and every other decision that has been taken by the leadership would be ratified by NEC.

    “So if we do not have NEC meeting, it would be difficult to resolve this crisis,” Giadom said.

  • Delta Govt clarifies Gov. Okowa’s ‘controversy-stirring’ NEC appointment

    Delta Govt clarifies Gov. Okowa’s ‘controversy-stirring’ NEC appointment

    The Delta State Government has clarified the appointment handed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa by the National Economic Council (NEC) headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo that has stirred controversy in some quarters.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Manager of Communications, Government House, Asaba, Jackson Ekwugum made the clarification in a statement on Monday, stressing that Governor Okowa was not appointed to lead a sub-committee on post Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) economic growth.

    Ekwugum, in the statement, stressed that the sub-committee, chaired by Okowa, was to work and liaise with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTFCOVID19) on the process of lifting the national lockdown and reopening the economy.

    According to the Communications Manager at the Government House, it was a normal practice of NEC to always set up sub-committees to deal with pressing national issues and that Okowa’s appointment was not something deserving of frenzy.

    The statement reads: “His Excellency, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, is mindful of the earnest desire of Nigerians for life to return to normal as quickly as possible.

    “However, it has become necessary to set the record straight and correct the wrong impression that has been created by this story.

    “It is not true that Governor Okowa was appointed to lead a Sub-Committee on post COVID-19 economic growth.

    “The National Economic Council (NEC) headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo recently created a Sub-Committee, chaired by Okowa, to work/liaise with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on the process of lifting the national lockdown and reopening the economy”.

    According to Ekwugum, Okowa enjoined Nigerians to continue to pray for divine intervention to resolve the current health crisis even while they maintain the necessary safety protocols/guidelines.

  • Kaduna surpasses Ekiti record for broadband investment, as more States join race

    Kaduna, Imo, Katsina and Plateau States have joined Ekiti State in implementing the right of way charges pegged at a maximum of N145 per linear metre as approved by the National Executive Council (NEC).

    Recall that Governor of Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi had signed an executive order reducing the right of way charges related to the laying of broadband or any other telecommunications infrastructures from N4,500 to N145 per meter.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the development made Ekiti the first State in Nigeria to comply with the NEC resolution, thus becoming the cheapest State for broadband infrastructure investment in Nigeria as 1km of cable will now cost just N145,000 as against N4.5m previously.

    However, the right of way charges in Kaduna have been completely waived, while Katsina, Plateau and Imo States joined Ekiti in pegging the charges at a maximum N145 per linear metre.

    Meanwhile, Dr Femi Adeluyi, Technical Assistant (Information Technology) to Dr Isa Ali Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, has stated that the actions of the States Governors are commendable.

    He stated that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy was delighted to hear about the strides that have been made by the executive Governors.

    According to a statement by Dr Adeluyi, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo signed Executive Order No. 002, 2020, ratifying the federal government policy on the 20th of May 2020.

    The statement reads: “The actions of the Governors are truly commendable. They also align with the resolution of the State Governors under the auspices of the Governors’ Forum on the 22nd of January 2020 to address the lingering issue of Right of Way (RoW) charges in a bid to deepen broadband penetration in the country and promote a Digital Economy for a Digital Nigeria.

    “At that meeting the Executive Governors had resolved to adopt the 2013 resolutions reached by the National Economic Council (NEC) which agreed on a maximum RoW charge of N145 per linear meter of fibre. Implementing this resolution will go a long way in implementing the National Broadband Plan (NBP) which was launched by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, on the 19th of March 2020.

    “An increase in broadband access will have a positive impact on the economy of the various States as well as the entire country. One of the key benefits is the rapid growth in the gross domestic product (GDP) of any country that increases its broadband penetration. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how important broadband is in supporting economies around the world.

    “The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy congratulates and commends the Executive Governors of Kaduna, Imo, Katsina and Plateau States for these very important actions.

    “We would like to encourage other Executive Governors to do the same in order to support the development of our digital economy, facilitate digital literacy and accelerate broadband penetration across the country.

    “This will also improve our Gross Domestic Product (GDP)”.

  • Osinbajo presides over first ever virtual NEC meeting

    Osinbajo presides over first ever virtual NEC meeting

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday, presided over the first ever virtual meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting anchored from the Yellow Room, Office of the Vice President, was the fourth for the year as the nation strives to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Minister of Finance featured at the meeting while the governors joined the virtual NEC from their states.

    Constitutionally, the vice president is the chairman of NEC which meets monthly to deliberate on the coordination of economic planning and programmes of various levels of government.

    NEC comprises the 36 state governors, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Minister of Finance, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and other relevant government officials whose duties hinged on the economy.

  • Coronavirus: NEC sets up committee to coordinate FG, States’ response

    In what reflects a continuous and consistent confrontation of COVID-19 in Nigeria, State governors under the auspices of the National Economic Council (NEC) have set up a Special Committee to coordinate Federal and State governments’ response to deal with the fallout of the Coronavirus pandemic.

    The Committee which started deliberations immediately after the NEC meeting on Thursday is chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, with the Governors of Jigawa, Edo, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kebbi and Ogun States as members.

    A statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity to the Vice President, Laolu Akande, the establishment of the Special Committee mandated to coordinate the responses of the Federal Government and States especially as it relates to the socio-economic implications of the pandemic on Nigerians, was the major outcome of the Council meeting which featured several presentations on COVID-19 ranging from the economic to the financial and public health dimensions of the matter.

    The statement reveals that NEC also strongly recommended that public gatherings should be discouraged and the maximum numbers in any large gathering should be worked out by respective State governments, including schools, social gatherings and worship centres.

    Briefing NEC on COVID-19 and Nigeria’s response, the Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunimbe Mamora and the Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, noted that as at March 17, 2020, 152 countries are confirmed with coronavirus.

    The presentation disclosed that in Nigeria there were 53 persons tested, 12 confirmed cases, zero deaths, 1 case discharged, and 3 states with confirmed cases were Lagos, Ogun and Ekiti States, while the type of transmission showed six cases imported from Italy, United States of America and the United Kingdom.

    Ehanire who led the presentation said the strategic objective of the response include early detection, confirmed cases and contact tracing, developing and maintaining capacity to effectively manage cases, coordination and communication with Nigerians, noting that about 80% of people recovered from the disease without the need for special treatment.

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha who heads the Presidential Task Force also briefed Council on steps already taken by Federal Government to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

    At the Council meeting, the following presentations on COVID-19 were made:

    i. Briefing on COVID-19 pandemic and Control Measures by the Minister of Health

    ii. Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the Nigerian Economy by the Chairman Economic Advisory Council

    iii. Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the Nigerian Economy: What is being done, by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

    iv. Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on Nigerian petroleum revenues: What is being done, by the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

    v. Managing the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on monetary policy by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Also giving an update on the effect of COVID-19 on the oil and gas sector, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr Mele Kyari, said the pandemic has impacted negatively on crude oil production and consumption and is further complicated by the quantity of the crude oil available before the pandemic came in, stressing that this has led to a sharp decline in the price of crude oil to about $22 pb as today.

    He said “the price of production now is higher than the selling price of oil, making it very difficult for oil producing companies and nations.”

    He however noted that it is not a hopeless situation for Nigeria as measures are being taken to curtail the negative impact it may bring such as reducing the cost and increasing the production “even though budget level for crude oil is $57pb and when the reality of $30pb comes to play, we will still fulfill our obligation to FAAC.”

    The NNPC boss also noted that the drop in the crude oil price has significant impact on the price of petroleum products and as a result of that change the price of petroleum products particularly PMS has been brought down to N125 on Wednesday and all NNPC service stations have been directed to comply.

    NEC also got update on the balances of the Excess Crude, Stabilization, and the Natural Resources Development Fund, accounts.

    The Excess Crude stood at $72, 220,756.74 as at 17th March, 2020, while Stabilization account was put at N35, 806,389,699.67 during the same period. Natural Resources Development Fund account stood at N109, 360,903,475.60 during the period under review

  • APC: Grand plot to sack Oshiomhole thickens as court okays emergency NEC meeting

    APC: Grand plot to sack Oshiomhole thickens as court okays emergency NEC meeting

    A Federal High court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has okayed the controversial National Executive Committee, NEC, emergency session for the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheduled for next week.

    The Nation reports that the court restrained National Working Committee (NWC) members loyal to National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, from obstructing the conduct of the meeting which is expected to decide the fate of the embattled former Edo governor.

    Justice S.U. Bature on Wednesday granted an interim order against Babatunde Ogala, National Legal Adviser; Lanre Issa-Onilu, National Publicity Secretary and Waziri Bulama, National Secretary.

    He warned them not to disrupt the NEC meeting scheduled for March 17, 2020, or any subsequent date pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed.

    The court ruled on ex-parte filed by APC National Vice Chairman (North East), Salihu Mustapha against the trio. Mustapha is one of the Oshiomhole-must-go NWC members.

    Recall that Ogala, Issa-Onilu and Bulama had kicked against the NEC meeting.

    They called the invitation to NEC members announced by Victor Giadom, the Deputy National Secretary, illegal, stating that the APC constitution provides how a NEC meeting shall be convoked.

    “Victor Giadom is not vested with any constitutional powers to convene any NEC meeting, neither has he been so directed by the National Chairman”, their joint statement read.

    They advised NEC members to ignore the notice and/or invitation described as a product of mischief that should not be given any probative value.

    Last week, the NWC released the names of new national officers it said were nominated by stakeholders.

    This was hours after same High Court of the FCT, which gave the latest ruling, suspended Oshiomhole.

    Apart from Bulama, who was named National Secretary, former Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, emerged as the Deputy National Chairman (South) and Paul Chukwuma as the National Auditor.

    The appointments evoked condemnations by some state APC chapters. According to them, the new NWC officials were not unanimously adopted by their respective zones as claimed.

    Some analysts, party stalwarts and members believe that Bulama, Ajimobi and Chukwuma were hurriedly included in the NWC to ensure that Oshiomhole has a good number on his side as the plot to oust him thickens.

  • Osinbajo presides NEC as Uzodinma attends first meeting

    Vice Pesident Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, presided over the National Executive Council(NEC) meeting.

    The meeting is the first NEC for the year and the first for the newly sworn-in Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma.

    Uzodinma, the newest member of the council, was the cynosure as he exchanged banters with other governors.

    Nigeria’s constitution provided that the vice president should be the Chairman of NEC.

    The monthly NEC meeting deliberates on economic planning efforts and programmes of the various levels of government in the country.

    NEC comprises the 36 state governors, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Minister of Finance, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and some other government officials whose duties hinge on the economy.