By Daniel Idonor
ABUJA — FOLLOWING the exit of three Ministers so far from the Federal Executive Counci, FEC, in the last one week, President Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday  approved the redeployment of two Ministers.

At the end of the  FEC meeting, two Ministers resigned from the cabinet, including Adamu Waziri of Police Affairs and Alhaji Isa Bio of the Sport, while Mr Humphrey Abbah, former Minister of State Interior now moves to Ministry of Police Affairs and Minister of Special Duties, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja will now oversee Ministry of Sports in addition to the Special Duties Ministry.

President Goodluck Jonathan flanked by Vice President Namadi Sambo (3r) and the Chairman National Energy Regiulatory Commission, Mr. Sam Amadi (2l) while NIREC Commissiopner, Mrs. Mary Awolokun (r) and other Commissioners watched shortly after the inauguration ceremony of the Commission at the Council Chambers, State House, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida

The Federal Government yesterday disclosed that it has invested about N80 billion on power for the 2010 as part of plans to boost constant power supply.

Meanwhile, Federal Executive Council, FEC, which considered 27 memos in all was the last for the year 2010 as its been adjourned to January 19, 2011.

The total amount of contracts approved yesterday was N56.29 covering power (N5.2 billion), education (N13.5 billion), health (N1.12 billion).

Briefing State House correspondents, the Minister of Information and Communication, Labaran Maku, alongside Minister of Finance, Olusegun Aganga, Minister of National Planning, Shamsudeen Usman, Minister of Education, Prof. Rukayyatau Rufai, Minister of State Power Nuhu Wya, and Minister of State Niger Delta, Sam Ode, announced that three new federal universities in addition to the six earlier approved to be established by the government. They  will be sited at Gombe, Nasarawa, Katsina, Kogi, Jigawa, Taraba, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, and Ekiti.

According to him, the importance is to help the growth of Education and meet the nation’s vision of being among the top 20 economies by the year 2020. The Education Trust Fund, ETF, was directed to release N1.5 billion to each of the universities for their immediate take off.

Council also approved a proposal for the supply of mathematics  textbooks at the cost of N3.981 billion which will be distributed to the 36 states and FCT.

The project, Maku said, was in continuation of the Bring Back the Book initiatives of the President which was launched on Monday in Lagos.

Council also approved Integrated Tax Administration system for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) at the cost of N3.07 billion to modernize the nation’s tax collection system.

Notable accounting firms, Akintola Williams Delotti, KPMG and TATCOFF Services were approved as consultants to verify  the actual amount of PHCN monetization arrears at the N258.2 million. The Minister assured that government was now ready to resolve the pending labour problem so that it can proceed with the power reform project.

Explaining government’s challenges, Maku said, “The labour issues the outstanding payment of monetization arrears between 2003 and 2009, conversion of over 10,000 casual staff and payment of the balance of 150 per cent salary increase have been some of the major challenges faced in the implementation of the PHCN reforms.

Council also approved the procurement of medicament and equipment to be supply within three months to the Health Ministry.

National Planning Ministry got approval of Council for the implementation of NEC recommendations mass sensitization of Nigerians, Creation of National infrastructure for job creation to help move Nigeria to the position of a nation of our dreams.

Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs got approval for project on canalization of some areas to improve inland water transportation in Burutu LGA in the sum of N2.4 billion, another in N1.8 billion. this is to improve inland water transportation. In Delta states at the cost of N1.3 billion.

To improve local consumption of gas improve income generation it will terminate in Katsina state.
Power  projects to get adequate gas supply to boast power production.

Nigeria is now going to be able to establish the quantity of the gas reserve, where they are located quality etc.
Council also approved the direct procurement of 73 Operational vehicles for the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and other organs of the Ministry of Petroleum at the cost of N379.5 billion.

Stabilization of Power supply got a boast as contract for the provision of communication facilities for the Power Ministry was awarded by FEC at the cost of N330 million and additional N2.5billion for the procurement of circuit breakers for the power Ministry.

Others include operational of spares for Ughelli power plant N38.3million,  bringing the total contract for power approved yesterday’s Council to N5.525 billion.

The Transport Ministry got approval for the upgrade of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) headquarters at the cost of N5.5 billion.

Council also approved the construction of Karshi_Apo road at N2.258 billion to be completed in 20 months, Abuja/Suleija road at the cost of N1.356 billion to be completed within 18 months and the rehabilitation of old Keffi road at N1.653 billion to be completed within 18 months.