Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The 84th National Economic Council (NEC) meeting and the first for the year, presided over by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has constituted a 10-man working committee, to address killings by herdsmen.
Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, who briefed alongside his Ebonyi State counterpart, Dave Umahi, disclosed this to State House Correspondents at the end of the meeting which lasted four hours.
The governor said the committee, headed by Osinbajo, comprises governors of Kaduna, Zamfara, Taraba, Benue, Adamawa, Edo, Plateau, Oyo,and Ebonyi states as members.
Ganduje disclosed that the committee would collaborate with the Federal Government in addressing impunity regarding killings and violence. He said the committee will work to ensure that all perpetrators of violence are prosecuted.
Also, NEC approved the resolution of the 59th National Council on Health that, at least, between 0.5 percent to one percent of the monthly allocation to states be earmarked for financing implementation of the HIV/AIDS sustainability roadmap.
Umahi said this followed a presentation by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole and NECA Director General, Olusegun Oshinowo, who urged the Council to consider increase in domestic funding of treatment of persons living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
The governor also said they sought Council’s interest in public sector funding for HIV/AIDS services in Nigeria, in order to achieve the goal of eliminating the diseases by 2030.
“The increase will reduce dependence on donor funding for HIV/AIDS services and the attendant development implication.They also called for HIV treatment that will lead to increased life expectancy in the country and the proportion increase in GDP.
“They added that the need to invest in HIV/AIDS is imperative because donor funding is declining, due to the global economic circumstances. Reducing the gap between those who require HIV/AIDS care and treatment and those who actually are able to access it, is another reason to invest in HIV/AIDS. They asked council to approve the resolution of the 59th National Council on Health.
The council was also given an update on the Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP).
“The Minister of Budget and National Planning informed Council that the federal government is addressing the country’s economic situation through the ERGP, covering 2017 to 2020.
Ganduje said Council was also given Federation Account balances. He said Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, reported that the balance in Excess Crude Account, as at January 15, 2018, stood at $2,317 billion, Stabilisation Account was N9,730 billion while Natural Resources Development Fund stood at N115,108 billion
“Council was told that, so far, Budget Support Loan Facility disbursed to 11 states of the Federation that have met the requirements stood at N700 billion and the states that are having outstanding payments are required to meet and complete the necessary obligations before the disbursement is effected.”
NEC comprises governors of the 36 states of the Federation, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and ministers of Budget and National Planning and the Federal Capital Territory (FEC).