HIGHLIGHTS OF NEC (4TH IN 2017) 77TH NEC MEETING – THURSDAY, 25TH MAY, 2017

REPORT ON EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT BY ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION

∑        The Accountant General of the Federation presented to Council, an update on the Excess Crude Account

∑        He told Council that the balance in the Excess Crude Account as at 24th May, 2017 stands at $2,300,389,201.51.

UPDATE ON BUDGET SUPPORT LOAN FACILITY BY HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FINANCE

∑        The Accountant General of the Federation informed Council that the current Budget Support Loan Facility will end in May 2017.

Council Decision

∑        Council noted the concerns of States and directed the Minister of Finance to work out the modalities for the continuation of the programme.

COMMENDATION:

At the end of today’s meeting, Governors lauded the Acting President.

–     Members of the Council lauded the leadership qualities of the Acting President, describing him as the “System Stabilizer.”

In a presentation by the Governors, the Acting President was told “this nation is very stable because of the role you play. God bless you our Acting President, thank you very much”.

–      The Council then prayed that God Almighty should give the Acting President more strength to carry out the task of national re-engineering.

OTHER ISSUES:

INTERIM REPORT OF THE NEC AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON THE MANAGEMENT OF ECOLOGICAL FUND BY THE GOVERNOR OF KADUNA STATE

∑        11-man Committee on Ecological Fund submitted an Interim Report

∑        The Report of the Committee was presented to Council by the Committee’s Chairman, Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai

∑        The Committee informed Council that the revised sharing formula of the Ecological Funds as modified is as follows:

–      FG       –       1%

–      States –       0.72%

–      LGAs    –       0.60%

∑        That all States and Local Government Areas have got their share of the Ecological Fund, and that the only thing left is the Federal Government’s share of 1%

∑        Of the 1% belonging to the FG, (which now stands at N33.6 billion) NEMA and Great Green Wall project are statutorily entitled to 20% and 15 % respectively.

∑        Only 65% of the FG’s share is available for sharing

∑        The report gave details of how the entire Ecological Fund has been utilized and noted that there is need to establish a clear criteria for sharing the 65% of the FG share among States of the Federation.

∑        The Committee informed Council that 19 States plus Abuja are yet to benefit from the 1% of the share of the Ecological fund.  These are Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Borno, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara, and FCT. Several other states had benefitted in the previous administration, in 2013, an action described as discriminatory.

∑        Thirteen billion (N13 B) naira is now available for sharing to States, since N20 billion must be left in the account for unknown national emergencies.

Council Decision

∑        Council applauded and appreciated the enormous and painstaking work the Committee has done, noting that it will await the final report of the Committee before taking decision.

REPORT OF THE NEC AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON THE REVIEW OF THE REPORT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON LAND REFORM BY THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, THE GOVERNOR OF BAUCHI STATE

∑        On September 2016, the report of the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reform (PTCLR) Tagged “The Land Use Act (LUA) draft Regulations” was presented to the Council

∑        The Council constituted an Ad-hoc Committee comprising 7 Governors to review the regulations.

∑        The Committee considered the report, and today presented its findings and recommendations to Council

∑        Highlight of the report includes:

1. the need to introduce systematic land titling and registration throughout Nigeria

(b)    radically increase the existing dismal volume of land registration in Nigeria.

(c)    substantially reduce the cost of securing land titles in Nigeria.

(d)    set out standard guidelines and processes for land titling and registration in Nigeria

(e)    to optimize the socio-economic benefits of land to both the Government and the people.

Council Decision

∑        Council thanked the Committee for the comprehensive report and directed the Committee to further reflect the views and concerns raised by States, especially as it has to do with mining rights and the role of States, Local Governments and Communities for onward submission to the Council of States for consideration

PRESENTATION ON ADDRESSING SEVERE SHORTAGE OF TRACTORS IN THE COUNTRY BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

∑        As the 2017 farming season enters its critical stage, the Minister of Agriculture, made a presentation, and charged Council to prevail on States Government to acquire more tractors, 100 at the very least per State to support the efforts of farmers in boosting food production in line with the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

∑        He told Council that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will continue to lend a helping hand to States Government in other areas of critical needs, including the provision of threshes, mini-harvesters, water pumps as well as the provision of loans at single-digit interest rate for farmers.

∑        He informed Council that agriculture is still leading the path of GDP growth which stood at 3.5% in the second quarter of 2017, and that there is need to give greater impetus to agricultural production in order to speed up the country’s economic recovery.

Council Decision

Council urged States to step up efforts to acquire more tractors to boost agricultural production.