Tinubu's FEC Meeting
Tinubu presided over the FEC meeting, where eight new permanent secretaries were sworn in, and key issues such as the Procurement Act, Samoa Agreement, and the establishment of a University of Technology in Abuja were discussed.
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, July 10, presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
According to details shared on X by presidential media aide Bayo Onanuga, the meeting commenced with the swearing-in of eight new permanent secretaries.
Following this, council members congratulated President Tinubu on his re-election as chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for another one-year term.
The council discussed several significant topics, including the Procurement Act, Samoa Agreement, separation of universities from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) platform, the establishment of a University of Technology in Abuja, and the creation of a new Ministry of Livestock Development.
PROCUREMENT ACT
The council deliberated on the necessity of aligning project costs with budget allocations and avoiding post-award contract augmentations. It was noted that many augmented contracts were inherited from previous administrations, with some awarded over 10-15 years ago. Consequently, the Attorney-General of the Federation was tasked with reviewing the Procurement Act, which has been in operation since 2007, to ensure it meets contemporary demands. Ministries were urged to reconcile project costs with budget provisions and obtain clearance from the Ministers of Budget and Finance for any extra funding needs. These two ministers will now serve as a clearinghouse for capital projects requiring extra-budgetary spending.
SAMAO ARGREEMENT
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning and the Minister of Information and National Orientation addressed the council regarding misinformation being spread by a Nigerian newspaper about the EU-ACP agreement. They emphasized that the agreement does not include any clauses related to LGBTQ issues that conflict with Nigerian laws and the Constitution, citing the position of the Nigerian Bar Association. The Minister of Information reported a complaint filed against the newspaper with the Ombudsman of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria to counteract the misinformation.
These key takeaways highlight the council’s efforts to ensure fiscal responsibility, uphold legal standards in international agreements, and address misinformation.
ASUU AND IPPIS
The council asked the Secretary of the Government of the Federation to expedite the implementation of the council decision made months ago, separating the universities from the IPPIS platform.
Tinubu’s FEC Meeting
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ABUJA
The Council ratified the anticipatory approval given on 28 May 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari to establish the university in the Federal Capital. The university is the first of the network of Pan African Institutes of Science and Technology dedicated to teaching African scientists and technologists.
MINISTRY OF LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT
Council decided that the Ministry be excised from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and developed along the lines suggested by the Presidential Livestock Development Committee, now headed by Professor Attahiru Jega.
Although many contract memos were stepped down, the FEC approved some others. Among them were:
1. Facility Maintenance Service submitted by EFCC, in favour of Julius Berger at a cost of N392 Million. The contract sum was less than the N533m approved in 2018 for the yearly maintenance of the headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja.
2. Procurement of 2000 tractors, 4000 disc ploughs, 1000 disc ridges, 1200 tractor trailers and assorted spare parts. The items to be supplied are for the National Agricultural Mechanization Programme (NAMP) to strengthen national food security. Aftrade DMCC, which has done a similar job in Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Africa and Togo, will supply all the equipment and will also set up a plant to assemble the machinery, in the second stage of the contract.
3. Contract for the engineering audit of upstream measurement equipment and facilities in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Upstream Sector in favour of Messrs. PE Energy Limited. Completion will be 180 days.
4. Contract for the procurement of pre-field development studies for advanced declaration solution Technology in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Upstream Sector, in favour of Messrs. P-Lyne Energy Limited. Completion will also be in 180 days.
5. Two Contracts for the supply of SUVs and other operational vehicles to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission. The contracts are in favour of Elizade Nigeria Limited, Lanre Shittu Motors and Vinicius Global Link Ltd.
6. Contract for the procurement of low and high-voltage substation connectors in favour of Messrs. Maglous Enterprises Limited. The connectors are for the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
At the end of Wednesday’s meeting, the council adjourned till Monday 15 July.
Click below to watch our video of the week:
Interswitch, a leading integrated payments and digital commerce company in Africa, has reaffirmed its commitment…
FG launches free train rides nationwide for December 20 to January 5. Passengers must…
Peter Obi pledged to fulfill Dele Farotimi’s ₦30 million bail conditions. Farotimi faces defamation charges…