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Tony Elumelu, Dangote Others Named As PECC Members As President Tinubu Establishes Comprehensive Economic Coordination And Planning System For Nigeria

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In a strategic move to bolster the nation’s economic governance frameworks and ensure robust and coordinated economic planning and implementation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of the Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC) and the creation of the Economic Management Team Emergency Taskforce (EET).

The Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC) comprises distinguished leaders and key government officials, including:

(1) President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – Chairman of the PECC

(2) Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – Vice-Chairman of the PECC / NEC Chairman

(3) President of the Nigerian Senate

(4) Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum

(5) Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance

(6) Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria

(7) Minister of Agriculture and Food Security

(8) Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development

(9) Minister of Budget and Economic Planning

(10)Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy

(11)Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment

(12)Minister of Labour and Employment

(13) Minister of Marine and Blue Economy

(14) Minister of Power

(15)Minister of State, Petroleum Resources

(16)Minister of State, Gas

(17)Minister of Transportation

(18)Minister of Works

The PECC will also comprise key members of the organized private sector, with the following members joining for a period not exceeding one (1) year, subject to the President’s directive:

(1) Alhaji Aliko Dangote

(2) Mr. Tony Elumelu

(3) Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu

(4) Ms. Amina Maina

(5) Mr. Begun Ajayi-Kadir

(6) Mrs. Funke Okpeke

(7) Dr. Doyin Salami

(8) Mr. Patrick Okigbo

(9) Mr. Kola Adesina

(10)Mr. Segun Agbaje

(11)Mr. Chidi Ajaere

(12)Mr. Abdulkadir Aliu

(13)Mr. Rasheed Sarumi

Furthermore, in his determination to address immediate economic challenges and ensure the streamlined execution of economic strategies, President Bola Tinubu has established the Economic Management Team Emergency Taskforce (EET) with a mandate to formulate and implement a consolidated emergency economic plan. The taskforce comprises key government officials and industry leaders in furtherance of the President’s collaborative approach toward achieving economic resilience and growth. The EET is now mandated to submit a comprehensive plan of economic interventions for 2024 to the PECC, covering the next six (6) months, for immediate implementation within two weeks of its inauguration. The EET will meet twice weekly and is composed of the following members:

(1) Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance (Chairman of the EET)

(2) Minister of Budget and Economic Planning

(3) Minister of Power

(4) Minister of Agriculture and Food Security

(5) Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare

(6) Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment

(7) Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria

(8) National Security Adviser

(9) Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum

(10) Governor of Anambra State

(11)Governor of Ogun State

(12)Governor of Niger State

(13)Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service

(14)Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation

(15)GCEO, NNPC Limited

(16) Director-General, Nigeria Economic Summit Group

(17)Special Adviser to the President on Energy

(18)Dr. Bismarck Rewane, Economist

(19)Dr. Suleyman Ndanusa, Economist

The Economic Management Team, established in October 2023, and chaired by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, serves as the working group under the Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC), playing a crucial role in the economic governance structure established by the President. The EMT traditionally meets monthly or as required, but will now suspend its meetings for the duration of the EET’s mandate (six months). The EMT is composed of the following officials:

(1) Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance (EMT Chairman)

(2) Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria

(3) Minister of Budget and Economic Planning

(4) Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment

(5) Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy

(6) Minister of Works

(7) Minister of Labour and Employment

(8) Minister of Agriculture and Food Security

(9) Minister of State, Petroleum Resources

(10) Minister of State, Gas

(11) Minister of Power

(12) Minister of Transportation

(13) Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development

(14) Minister of Marine and Blue Economy

The Chairman of the EMT may, as needed, call on any Federal Minister or Head of Agency to brief the EMT on key programmes and developments affecting the economy.

The President’s formation of the PECC, under his Chairmanship, alongside the creation of the EET, led by the Chairman of the EMT, and the EMT itself, is the manifestation of a unified strategy aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s economic management architecture for verifiably improved performance. The formation of these teams will complement existing economic governance structures, including the National Economic Council (NEC), which is chaired by the Vice-President.

Over the next six months, the EET will focus on the rapid implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of critical initiatives, strengthening the Tinubu-led administration’s collective approach to advancing Nigeria’s economic objectives.

BIG STORY

Senate Passes Bill Seeking To Impose Death Penalty On Drug Traffickers

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The senate has approved the bill on third reading that would punish drug traffickers with the death penalty.

Following Tahir Monguno, the senator from Borno North, submitting a report on behalf of the joint committees on drugs and narcotics and the judiciary, the bill was passed by the upper legislative chamber on Thursday.

Monguno stated that the nation’s battle on drugs needs to be strengthened while he was presenting the report.

After the report was presented, the senate went into the “committee of the whole” to consider clauses of the bill where some senators disagreed with the death sentence.

When put to a voice vote, Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president, gave it to the “ayes”.

Thereafter, Adams Oshiomhole, a senator representing Edo north, said the senate should be careful with any law that deals with life.

“Anything that deals with life, we should be careful,” Oshiomhole said.

Responding, Jibrin said Oshiomhole should have called for a divide.

“I’m sorry my former national chairman… you should have called for a divide, it is your right, but we have passed it,” the deputy senate president said.

Also, Akpan Ekong, senator representing Akwa Ibom south, tried to come under “personal explanation” to disapprove of the provision, but Jibrin ruled him out of order.

The bill, which originated from the house of representatives, will be sent to the president for assent if there are no differences between the two chambers of the national assembly.

If there are differences, the two chambers will set up a conference committee to harmonise the grey areas before it is sent for assent.

In recent times, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has been making substantial seizures of substances ranging from cannabis to opioids from suspected traffickers.

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BREAKING: Reps Suspend Implementation Of Cybersecurity Levy

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The House of Representatives on Thursday ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop enforcing the cybercrime levy in accordance with the terms of the cybercrime Act.

This came after the PDP Rivers Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda’s urgently important proposal was adopted.

According to Chinda, the Cybercrime Act’s section 44 (2a) identified the following entities as required to pay the fees: stock exchanges, insurance firms, banks and other financial institutions, GSM and telecom businesses, and Internet providers.

The lawmaker explained that the circular from the CBN has raised apprehension across Nigeria, stressing that it has given the impression that the levy is to be paid by Nigerians in an era when they are still battling with an increase in the price of petroleum products, among others.

The House subsequently asked the apex bank to withdraw its earlier circular on implementing the levy immediately and issue another circular in line with the provisions of the Act.

 

More to come…

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BIG STORY

Alleged Fraud: Court Grants Sirika, Daughter, Two Others N100m Bail Each

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A Federal High Court located in Abuja has granted N100 million in bail to Hadi Sirika, a former Minister of Aviation, along with two other individuals and his daughter.

They are on trial for allegedly defrauding the N2.7 billion. The court orders them to submit two further sureties, both of whom must have acquired properties in Abuja.

The court ruled that the sureties had to be law-abiding citizens as well. A means affidavit must be deposed to by the sureties.

The accused were also prohibited by the court from leaving the country without authorization.

Justice Oriji ordered that the defendants should be remanded in prison custody if they failed to meet their bail conditions.

The sureties must own landed properties within the FCT with valid titles. The trial will commence on the 10th, 11th and 20th of June.

 

More to come…

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