Nigeria Govt to partner UN for local production of HIV drugs

The Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed plans to work with the United Nations for the local production of antiretroviral drugs in the country to ensure sustained treatment for the 3.4 million Nigerians living with HIV.

According to a statement, the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN said on Wednesday while receiving the UNAIDS Country Director, Dr. Bilali Camara in his office that, “Certainly the capacity exists in Nigeria to be able to produce those drugs for Nigerians, and the whole of west and central African countries. And we certainly can contribute to see how that happens.”

Buhari Begins Total Probe Of Jonathan’s Govt

ABUJA — A total probe of the administration run by immediate past president, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is underway as the National Economic Council, NEC, Ad-hoc Committee on the Management of Excess Crude Account Proceeds and Accruals into the Federation Account, headed by the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, is to hire two international forensic audit firms to probe revenue that accrued into the Federation Account and how it was spent under former Dr Goodluck Jonathan as President.

Mr. Oshiomhole told journalists at the end of the first meeting of the committee in Abuja, yesterday that the auditors would cover the period January 1, 2010 to June 1, 2015.

It put paid to calls by the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, that Buhari should extend his 

probe to the administrations of Jonathan’s predecessors, Alh. Umaru Yar’ Adua.and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

Already, some revenue generating agencies have been invited to brief the committee which will take detailed briefings from all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs of the Federal Government that deal directly with revenue.

Buhari reportedly moves to pacify Tinubu - Ex-Governor to get more Ministerial nominees

This is according to a report by Tribune. They claim that president Buhari is considering giving former Lagos State governor Bola Tinubu more ministerial slots as a way of pacifying the national leader of the APC who is said to be very angry about the goings on in the party...especially the national Assembly crisis.

"Sources close to the APC confirmed to the Nigerian Tribune that the presidency had discovered lately that Tinubu was angry and had been putting some measures in place to pacify the national leader of APC.

Tinubu’s camp was said to have been angered by Buhari’s failure to back its strategies that would have ensured the emergence of candidates of the party for the positions of Senate president and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

It was learnt that Tinubu was particularly angry that Buhari did not make good his promise to address APC legislators at the International Conference Centre on June 9, leading to the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate president.

Plot to bar Tinubu from APC NEC meeting thickens

‘Ex-gov, not national leader’

FROM ADETUTU FOLASADE-KOYI, ABUJA

The tension in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) heightened yesterday as there are moves to bar National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu from attending the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) scheduled for today.

The parley was postponed from last Tuesday.

A group of angry leaders, backed by former governors of the party, are set on a collision course with the leadership of the party over Tinubu’s alleged role in the leadership crisis rocking the National Assembly. Daily Sun gathered that some prominent party members are up in arms against top leaders of the party on Tinubu’s status “after the March 28 presidential poll.

A former governor of the party reiterated to Daily Sun yesterday that there would be drama at the venue of the NEC meeting if Tinubu is allowed to enter or participate in deliberations of the party’s highest organ.

Oshiomole replies Okonjo-Iweala, says 'I don't want to say she knows how to lie with statistics'

Edo state Governor Adams Oshiomhole has replied former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who yesterday denied allegations he made that she she spent N2.1 billion from the Excess Crude Account without authorization from members of the National Economic Council.

Speaking on Channels TV this morning, Governor Oshiomole said;

"I think with all due respect to former Minister Okonjo Iweala, she knows how to play around, I don't want to say lie with statistics. I have made this point that she keeps opening only parts of the pages and not the entire book. The logic of transparency is that the honorable minister must publish in full what is accruing to the federation account month to month and what is distributed to who?

FG-Okonjo-Iweala Spent $2.1bn Without Approval

The National Economic Council, chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday accused former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, of spending $2.1bn from the Excess Crude Account without authorisation.

“We looked at the numbers for the Excess Crude Account. The last time the former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, reported to the council, and it is in the minutes, she reported by November 2014 that we had $4.1 bn.

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole told State House correspondents after the NEC’s 58th meeting in Abuja.

“Today, the Accountant-General Office reported we have $2.0bn. Which means the honourable minister spent $2.1bn without authority of the NEC and that money was not distributed to states, it was not paid to the three tiers of government,”

Gov. Ambode at the Inauguration of National Economic Council in Abuja

Pictures from the National Economic Council inauguration...

more photos after the cut...

Buhari’s Address At Inauguration Of National Economic Council

ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, AT THE OCCASION OF THE INAUGURATION OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL, HELD AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA, ABUJA, ON MONDAY 29TH JUNE 2015.

Protocol

I am delighted to be here with you at this occasion on the inauguration of the National Economic Council (NEC) for this Administration. The National Economic Council was established by the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999), as amended, Third Schedule, Part I, Section 153: Sub section (18 & 19). The NEC, as one of the Federal Executive bodies, has the mandate to advise the President concerning the economic affairs of the Federation, and in particular on measures necessary for the co-ordination of the economic planning and programmes of the various Governments of the Federation.

2. Your Excellencies, the regular meetings of the National Economic Council have remained the official economic platform for dialogue among the thirty six (36) State Governors, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria and other co-opted members, chaired by the Vice President, where issues and challenges facing the development of the country, at national and sub-national levels, are discussed with a view to develop and harmonize common strategies for addressing them.

Buhari Inaugurates National Economic Council Today

President Muhammadu Buhari will today inaugurate his administration’s National Economic Council (NEC).

The council, which will be inaugurated in the council chambers of the presidential villa, Abuja, is expected to draw up a road-map that will actualise the economic policies of the new administration.

As is the tradition, the council which is to be chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and comprising of all the 36 state governors will also hold its first session.

The permanent secretaries of the ministries of finance, national planning, and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor will also be members of the council. Section 18 of the 1999 Constitution provides for the NEC to serve as an advisory body to the president on the economy.