While briefing newsmen after the Federal Executive Council Meeting, the Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku said that prior to the commencement of the FEC meeting, the Principal Secretary to the president, introduced Miss Blessing Okagbare, who was in Council to present to the President, the Silver and Bronze medals, in the long jump and 200 metres events respectively, which she won at the 2013 IAAF World Athletics Championship in Moscow. He described Miss Okagbare as a star athlete, a pride to the nation and a veritable source of inspiration to the Nigerian youth. He equally highlighted her other achievements.
Maku said the President congratulated Miss Okagbare for her achievements in general, and success in IAAF World Championship in particular, describing her as an athlete of uncommon dedication and patriotism who had made the country proud.
The President stated that sports was an image projector and a unifying factor, adding that Miss Okagbare's achievement was capable of improving Nigeria's image and restoring the lost glory of Nigeria in sports. He thereafter announced a cash reward of N3 Million for Miss Okagbare and N3.5 Million for her Coach, as well as a promise to consider both of them for a national honour in due course.
And, that the President commended the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduagban, for his support to Sports in his State and the country. He also commended Miss Okagbare's Coach and the Athletic Federation of Nigeria for their contribution to her achievements and the development of Athletics in the country.
The Information Minister said, after going through the previous meeting, the President tabled a memorandum to seek Council's approval for the printing of 33,500,000 Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs).
That, Council had at its meeting, conclusion of 10th April 2013, approved the award of contract for the Second Phase of the Printing of 33,500,000 PVCs at a unit cost of N65 per PVCs. It was however, discovered that the approved sum of N2,117,500,000 erroneously stated in the memorandum by INEC was not the total cost of printing 33,500,000 PVCs at N65 each.
However, INEC deliberated and approved the rectification of the contract sum.
After deliberations, Council approved the rectification of the contract sum for the award of contract for the printing of 33,500,000 Permanent Voters' Cards, in favour of Messrs ACT Technologies Limited, in the sum of N2, 177,500,000 in place of N2, 117,500,000 erroneously stated in the previous memorandum.
Maku also said that the Minister of Environment brought a memo to seek Council's approval for Nigeria to ratify the Constitution and Cooperation Agreement Establishing the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL).
According to Maku, the WASCAL is a German Government's initiative for pursuits of research on climate change and sustainable land management with partnership with local experts and institutions in West Africa.
The Federal University of Technology, Akure and Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna were selected as competent Centres to run PhD and M.Sc. programmes respectively under the initiative. The WASCAL has now entered the implementation phase following the signing of the Cooperation Agreement and Constitution of WASCAL by the responsible Ministers.
The participating countries were required to introduce the necessary steps to establish the national preconditions for implementing the cooperation agreement in-country including acceding to the agreement and payment of Euro30,000 annually as counterpart fund to ensure that the Agreement comes into force as early as possible.
And, because Nigeria stands to benefit scientifically and socio-economically in the WASCAL programme, council approve that Nigeria ratifies the Cooperation Agreement and the Constitution Establishing the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL).
Council directed that other necessary processes be initiated by Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice towards the ratification of this treaty and its domestication into law.
Maku further told journalists that the Minister of Labour and Productivity brought a memorandum, to seek Council's approval of the Draft National Policy on Child Labour.
He said over six million Nigerian children are now involved in hazardous child labour including its worst form. The prevalence of child labour undermines national development and provides a reservoir of children for easy recruitment into violent acts.
The draft National policy on child labour was developed through a wide consultative process involving all relevant sectors of the economy including governments, labour unions, employers associations, civil society and faith based groups.
According to the Information Minister, the National Policy on Child Labour would provide the needed coordinated and comprehensive framework for multi-sectoral action against the worst forms of child labour in Nigeria.
After deliberations, council approved the Draft National Policy on Child Labour for implementation.
Maku also said that the Minister of Transport brought a memo to seek council's approval for the establishment of Command Control Communication and Intelligence Centre for Sea Ports at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
That in the course of executing their mandate of providing a secure environment for ports operations within the Nigerian territorial waters and curtailing any threat of terrorist activity in the Ports, the Nigerian Ports Authority/ Ministry of Transport as the Landlord decided to embark on the establishment of a Central Command and Security breaches, in line with International Maritime Organization (IMO) convention on Safety of Life and Security at Sea (SOLAS).
The project would, according to Maku, create a total of 145 job opportunities: 33 professionals, 77 non-professionals during its execution and shall provide 35 more job opportunities as the project progresses.
After deliberations, Council approved the Establishment of Command Control Communication and Intelligence Centre for Sea Ports at the Nigerian Ports Authority, in favour of Messrs Stamford International Limited, in the sum of N2, 397,315,867, with a completion period of 14 months.
Maku said the Minister of Transport brought a memo to seek Council's approval for the procurement of 1no Water Weed Clearing Multipurpose Equipment for the Ministry of Transport/National Inland Waterways Authority.
The project was part of the planned programme for improving the safety of navigational channel by clearing of water hyacinth/other aquatic weeds along the Nigerian rivers and inland waterways to increase economic activities within the riverine areas and prevent boat mishaps.
The project would create job opportunities for 15 skilled and 9 unskilled Nigerians during its execution.
After deliberations, Council approved the procurement of 1no Water Weed Clearing Multipurpose Equipment, in favour of Messrs Alpha Boats Unlimited/First Index Project and Services Limited, in the sum of N278,122,527.53 inclusive of all taxes, made up of USD1,321,020.89 payment, plus N73,694,544.80 with a completion period of 240 days.
He also said the Minister of Communication Technology brought a note to apprise Council of the establishment of the headquarters of the West African Postal Conference (WAPCO) in Abuja, Nigeria.
That the formation of the West African Postal Conference (WAPCO) was aimed at achieving the Sub Regional Postal objectives as indicated in the Decision A/DEC/4/5/81 of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS relating to ECOWAS Medium Term Postal Programme.
The Minister informed Council that at the Conference, Nigeria agreed that the Executive Secretariat Headquarters of the WAPCO should be sited in Abuja, Nigeria and that Nigeria would provide Office accommodation for the WAPCO Secretariat as well as Residential Accommodation for the Executive Secretary while Cote d' Ivoire would pay the remuneration of the Executive Secretary.
That both the office and residential accommodation for the Executive Secretary have now been provided by NIPOST and are located respectively at No.3B (CITEC VILLA), 46 Crescent, 4th Avenue, Gwarimpa Estate, Abuja.
He also said that the Minister of Federal Capital Territory Administration brought a note to apprise Council of the Mobile Integrated primary Healthcare Service Delivery "Mailafiya Nigeria" an FCTA initiative that provides free Primary Healthcare Services to over 336 deserving communities in the FCT won the 2013 United Nations Public Service Award Second place in the category of "Improving the Delivery of Public Services".
Similarly, 1-Gov.net of the Galaxy Backbone Nigeria won the first place in the category of "Promoting whole of Government approach in the information age". This initiative provided a platform for infrastructure offering shared services to the whole of the Federal Government of Nigeria. It has eliminated the duplication of ICT projects and infrastructure within Government, reducing the cost and improving efficiency.
There is need to assiduously pursue excellence in all spheres of the Nation's Agenda with a view to sustaining and enhancing the nation's recognition by the International Community. The Council noted all the appraisals.
That towards the end of the meeting, the President announced the dropping of the following Ministers from the Cabinet with effect from Wednesday, 11th September, 2013: Foreign Affairs; Education; Environment; Science and Technology; Lands, Housing and Urban Development; National Planning Commission and the Ministers of State for Defence; Power; and Agriculture and Rural Development. He thanked the Ministers for serving the Cabinet and wished them well in their future endeavours. He added that the SGF would announce the Ministers to oversee the affairs of the affected Ministries.
Source: Federal Executive Council resolutions for Wednesday, 11th September, 2013. (http://fmi.gov.ng/fec-resolutions/31556/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=federal-executive-council-resolutions-for-wednesday-11th-september-2013)
Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria
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