… Urges for strict adherence to COVID-19 guidelines during Sallah

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

THE National Economic Council, NEC, Thursday informed that the repayment of federal government’s budget support facility by state governments will commence this July.

The information was made at the Council’s 118th meeting, which held virtually and was presided over by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, with State governors, some ministers the Central Bank Governor, CBN and other senior government officials in attendance.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Mr Laolu Akande.

According to the statement, “In the same vein, the Council received updates on the FG Budget Support Facility to States as the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning informed the Council that with the agreement reached on the matter with the CBN providing a bridge financing facility to the States, deductions from State Governments will now commence from July.”

Also, ahead of next week’s Sallah festivities, the NEC has urged for strict adherence to the COVID-19 response guidelines across the country, after receiving a regular state performance report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The report stated that the Coronavirus positivity rate has gone up in the country just as 3 cases of the Delta variant have now been detected.

“The Council received the state performance report on COVID-19 from the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, who noted that the Delta variant is a new variant identified in 103 countries and is 60% more transmissible than the highly infectious Alpha variant which was previously identified.

“The DG said despite the low number of cases in the country, the positivity rate has gone up and Lagos State has a larger burden of 70%-80% cases in the country, having recorded an increase in the number of cases in the last 10 weeks.

“The NCDC, therefore, urged the Council to ensure the sustenance of effective COVID-19 response nationwide, while improving public health awareness, adherence to public health, and social measures. The agency also called for the re-activation and sustained functioning of isolation centres as proactive preparatory measures towards tackling a possible third wave”, the statement said.

The Council was also briefed by the NEC Ad-hoc Committee interfacing with the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 to ease the lockdown of the economy.

According to Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State Governor and Chairman of the Committee, with the emergence of the Delta variant in Lagos State, there has been an increase in monitoring activities at entry points across the country.

“The Committee noted that State Governors will continue to monitor the situation for the next one week to see if there will be need for an emergency Ad-hoc committee meeting on the situation”, it said

The Council also received an update on cholera cases in some parts of the country.

Also, the Council received and discussed the initial report of its Ad-Hoc Committee interfacing with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on the complete deregulation of the downstream sub-sector of the industry, and appropriate pricing of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

“Observations and comments were made and it was resolved that an updated version will be submitted by the Committee inclusive of observations raised at today’s meeting and then an updated report be made to the National Economic Council (NEC) for further action.

“This resolution comes even as the Council noted that the Federal Government is working out modalities of providing Autogas conversion kits, and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)/ Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), mass transit buses to major cities nationwide as cheaper alternatives to PMS/petrol for transportation and fuel”, it said.

Regarding panels of inquiries in the States on EndSARS protests, Vice President Osinbajo noted that a number of states had submitted their reports and more reports are being awaited.

He encouraged state governments to turn in the reports while noting that the panels are still sitting in some States.

“According to the VP, the Council will have a full consideration on the reports from the states, make a compilation of the reports and review the implementation options.

“So far, reports have been received from Ekiti, Enugu, and Nasarawa while more reports are being awaited.

“Prof Osinbajo also encouraged the States that haven’t completed the panel’s work to send in interim reports” the statement said.

In addition, the Council received a presentation on Flood Disaster Risk Management in Nigeria for 2021 by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, and the Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

It urged State Governments to take proactive and necessary mitigative measures in addressing the envisaged 2021 flood disaster in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic while encouraging relevant Federal Ministries, Department, and Agencies (MDAs) to take necessary actions.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, gave the Council an update on the statuses of Federation Accounts.

“Excess Crude Account, as at July 13, 2021, stood at $60,852,533.19; Stabilisation Account stood at N26,346,419,015.43; while Development of Natural Resources Account stood at N23,573,977,607.78”, the statement said.