{"id":18175,"date":"2019-05-24T07:08:23","date_gmt":"2019-05-24T07:08:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/?p=18175"},"modified":"2019-05-24T07:08:23","modified_gmt":"2019-05-24T07:08:23","slug":"18175","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/?p=18175","title":{"rendered":"$182m left in Excess Crude Account; Osinbajo blames elite for religious, ethnic divisions"},"content":{"rendered":"

 
\nVice President Yemi Osinbajo has told the special valedictory session of the National Economic Council (NEC) he chairs that much of the blame for the religious and ethnic disagreements that divide the country rests with the political elite who stoke inherent fault lines to pursue selfish interests, and seek relevance.
\nHis words: \u201cBecause you have led your States for these many years, no one can advise us on the importance of unity or\u00a0the importance of tempering our utterances with wisdom, moderation and concern for those who are the usual victims of fratricidal or religious conflict. The ordinary Nigerian has no problems with his brothers and sisters of different tribes or religions; they share the same issues to a decent existence, food on the table, good shelter, and security of life and livelihoods. Unfortunately, frequently our political elite sometimes out of advancing selfish political agendas or seeking relevance,\u00a0recklessly stoke the fires of ethnicity and religious conflicts.\u00a0We must,\u00a0as leaders who have a duty to keep the peace and welfare of our States must not only rise above the temptation to take advantage of fault lines, but openly condemn and restrain those who do”.
\nAt the special valedictory meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting in the first term of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, the Council, Thursday presented the legacy document, which highlights its activities and resolutions between 2015 and 2019.
\nThe Vice President noted that the legacy document was “important, not merely\u00a0because\u00a0it chronicles sector debates and resolutions, but because it ensures that the next NEC is given a chance to implement or complete implementation.\u201d
\nDuring the meeting, Prof. Osinbajo thanked members of NEC, comprising of Governors of all the States of the Federation, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and others, for their solid support and cooperation over the past four years; and their commitment to the socio-economic development of Nigeria regardless of party or geopolitical zone.
\nThe Vice President further urged Nigeria\u2019s political elite and leaders to do more to advance the country\u2019s unity and its future prosperity.
\nHe said, \u201cThe privilege of executive leadership at this level\u00a0is one that only a few can have. Thirty-six governors and deputies, One President and one Vice President; 74 men and women of a nation of 200 million people. On this elite group rests the destiny and future of all our people.\u201d
\n\u201cIn the next few years, our\u00a0population will double with the attendant challenges of jobs, education,\u00a0healthcare, hard infrastructure and\u00a0security. Every nation that has moved its people from misery to prosperity has depended heavily on its political elite; you and I. Our people have nowhere else to look or to go. It is at our collective\u00a0table that the buck stops….
\n\u201cTo those departing this Council let me say that your task is not done. Use your influence and reach to the advantage of the Nigerian people.\u00a0 You have seen and heard the enormity of our National problems your advice, counsel and actions will always help. Do something in your States, or other States by way of advocacy and action on education and healthcare or jobs.\u201d
\nIn their remarks, Council members representing each geopolitical zone, including Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, commended the Vice President for his chairmanship and leadership style, and humility, noting that the VP treated all equally regardless of party affiliations,
\nThe Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, noted that the VP \u201cled a strong team through various areas requiring attention in the economy. He made robust efforts in security giving direction, confidence and comfort.\u201d
\nIn the same vein, the Borno State Governor said, the Vice President \u201cprovided leadership and in the past four years, he exhibited humility, giving everyone a sense of belonging.\u201d
\nGovernor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode said VP’s leadership produced a \u201crobust and purposeful NEC group, consistently stayed together pursing same goals, adding that subsequent governors would have to emulate their predecessors.\u201d He\u00a0also thanked the VP for the payment of backlog of salaries when they just got into government.
\n\u201cGovernors never had cause to be known by party lines, because VP provided quality leadership and encouraged freedom of expression. He accommodated every comment made, contributions in the past four years. The Unity in the council is unprecedented. He showed concern during the pipeline vandalism, brought peace and happiness in the region and his visit back then is still fresh in their memories. Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria is also a success recorded by the Council,\u201d added the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel.
\nImo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha said the VP \u201cis a patriotic Nigerian, who smiles over issues when one expects him to react negatively. The humility he displays is very rare. There’s great difference between NEC of the past and NEC under VP’s leadership. The speed with which issues regarding the country were handled were second to none. NEC became a family under the leadership of the VP.\u201d
\nBelow are highlights of the\u00a094thNEC MEETING – THURSDAY, 23rd MAY, 2019<\/strong>
\nA.
\nHIGHLIGHTS ON ACTIVITIES OF NEC AND RESOLUTIONS, 2015 – 2019
\nHighlight on the activities were given the Senior Technical Assistant to the President, Office of the Vice President, on Policies\/NEC as follows:
\nAgriculture<\/strong>
\nIn Agricultural Sector, NEC noted that agriculture must be an all-year round activities, otherwise it cannot carter for the Nigeria and Central African population.\u00a0\u00a0It therefore gave resolution to prioritise:
\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The initiative for national self-sufficiency in rise production
\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Re-position Bank of Agriculture to enhance its capacity to finance agriculture
\n3.\u00a0\u00a0Create an appropriate framework to provide intervention\u00a0funds for the Agricultural Sector
\nSolid minerals<\/strong>
\n>\u00a0Complete and present the solid minerals development roadmap (this framework should address issues of illegal mining, licenses taxes and royalties by 31st\u00a0March, 2016)
\n>\u00a0Engage State Governments on the roadmap and amendments that may be required by 30th\u00a0June, 2019
\nB.
\nInvestment Climate, Industrialisation and Enabling Monetary Polices<\/strong>
\nInfrastructure and Services
\nInvesting in our People
\n>Develop social protection collaboration framework (to ensure all tiers of Government work collaboratively towards he sustainability of the school feedings and other social protection programmes)
\n>Develop Teacher Corps implementation framework with key activities, timelines and responsibility matrix (to facilitate cooperation between the States\u2019 Ministries of Education and State Universal Basic Education\u00a0Board (SUBEBs) for the Teacher Corps Programme
\n>Engage State Government support for artisan training, scoping and support for existing artisan cultures
\n>Develop a comprehensive database of poor and vulnerable people for safety net programs (government, donor agency, organisation and\/individuals)
\nC.
\nFAAC UPDATES:<\/strong>
\nREPORT ON EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT (ECA)<\/strong>
\nHonourable Minister of Finance reported to the Council that the balance that\u00a0the balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) as at\u00a0May 20, 2019 stands at $182, 772, 509.87
\nUPDATE ON STABILIZATION FUND ACCOUNT:<\/strong>
\nHonourable Minister of Finance reported to the Council that the current balance in the Stabilization Account as at as at\u00a0May 20, 2019 stands at N21, 889, 026, 329.21
\nUPDATE ON NATURAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT FUND:<\/strong>
\nHonourable Minister of Finance equally reported to the Council that the current balance in the Natural Resources Development Fund as at as at\u00a0May 20, 2019 stands at N 72, 870, 652, 208. 77<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has told the special valedictory session of the National Economic Council (NEC) he chairs that much of the blame for the religious and ethnic disagreements that divide the country rests with the political elite who stoke inherent fault lines to pursue selfish interests, and seek relevance. His words: \u201cBecause you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":15565,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18175","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18175"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18175\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18175"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18175"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18175"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}