FEC sets up inter-ministerial committee on information dissemination, approves establishment of Nigerian Army University

0

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Wednesday, set up an inter-ministerial committee to advise the government on how the Information Ministry could be assisted to effectively disseminate government information.
The Ministers in the committee include Agriculture; Finance; Budget and Planning; Petroleum (state); Power, Works and Housing; Transportation; Communications; Information and Niger Delta Affairs.
According to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicicy, Mr Garba Shehu,  Information Minister Lai Mohammed presented the ministry’s progress report to FEC before leaving for other engagements.
“The Council decided to set up an inter-ministerial committee to fashion out a marshal plan for the communications for the ministry to seat down and advise the government on how government policies and programmes can be better disseminated.
“But in particular to advise the government really on what can be done to assist the ministry and its agencies to deliver on their own mandate.”
Shehu said that Information Minister spoke about how the ministry had changed things in the country including bringing down the wall dividing Nigerians or screening them off the on-going military engagements in the North-East.
He said Mohammed also said the ministry had done a lot in the proactive role in the release of the abducted Dapchi girls and the openness of the release operation.
He also mentioned the institution of the Town Hall meetings of which 11 had taken place across the country where feedback was got from the citizens about the administration’s activities.
He also stated the institution of the national sensitization campaign on insecurity as well as regular interactions with such bodies as the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria on sensitization campaign on insecurity in the country.
Also in the interaction were the Nigeria Guild of Editors and the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) all constituent bodies in the media.
According to Shehu, internationally, the minister spoke about engagements with the International Press Institute (IPI) which would be coming to Nigeria for its World congress in June.
He noted that Mohammed said the ministry had also made progress with the digital switch over and campaign.
FEC also approved the establishment of the Nigerian Army University in Biu, Borno State.
Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, disclosed this when he addressed State House correspondents after the council’s meeting.
“The Federal Executive Council has approved Ministry of Education’s memo for the establishment of a Nigerian Army University in Biu, Borno State.
“It is our hope that it will be the hub for developing a Nigerian Industrial Military Complex. It will be a very great university.”
It would be recalled that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen. Tukur Buratai, had in June 2017, said the army had already reached out to the National Universities Commission to secure approval for the university.
Buratai had then explained that the university was being designed as a unique and specialised institution that would serve as solutions centre, especially to specific challenges facing the military and North-East region.
Also addressing the correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, the Minister of Interior, General Abdulrahama Dambazau (rtd), disclosed that the council approved N234 million for the completion of two faculty buildings, Cadets’ Mess and a Cafeteria at the Police Academy, Wudil in Kano State.
He explained that the approval would go a long way in facilitating the accreditation of academic programmes at the Academy.
“The Ministry of Interior submitted a memo for approval for contract for the completion of two faculty buildings, Cadets’ Mess and Cafeteria at the Police Academy, Wudil, Kano state.
“The reason is that there is a minimum requirement to be met for the accreditation of academic programmes at the academy.
“You would recalled that in May 2010 a memo was submitted to the Council for approval of a draft bill when it was upgraded to a degree awarding institution and as a result of that there are requirements which the academy must meet in order to have its programmes accredited.
“So, this is why these projects that were started would need to be completed so that we can have full accreditation of the ongoing degree programmes. So, the total amount of the contract is about N234 million for the completion of the two faculty buildings and of course the Cadet Mess and the Cafeteria.”
Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, who also briefed on the outcome of the meeting, said the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Aisha Alhassan updated the council on activities of the ministry since November 2015.
He said the minister briefed council on women empowerment programme undertaken, capacity development for women, promotion of human rights, fighting violence against women and rehabilitation of victims of gender violence.
According to him, the minister also briefed on the efforts of the ministry towards promoting the health of women and children, “and of course the efforts on the rescue of Chibok and Dapchi girls.’’
He said the Council commended the ministry for a job well done.
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, also told the correspondents that the Council approved N19.3billion for the reconstruction of Baban Lamba-Sharam Road in Plateau State.
He said the council also approved a revision of N22 billion for the completion of the 81 kilometers Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Road.
“That road was first awarded in year 2000 and it has since been left uncompleted because they want no budgetary provisions for it.
“This administration in trying to move this contractor to site stated the revision of the rate.
“So, the revised rate were brought to council today and a revision of N22 billion was approved for the 81 kilometers road, bringing the total contract price to N56.701 billion,” he said.
The minister also revealed that the council approved N6.3 billion for the reconstruction of the section four of the Enugu – Port Harcourt road.
According to him, the part between Abia and Port Harcourt, particularly in Port Harcourt that has been problematic and has failed severally.
He said: “We have a contractor there but we needed to change the design because of the storm water drainage needs and the high water tables there so that the road does not fail.
“So that requires a revision of the scope of work to include retaining side lanes and also drainage facilities in the sum of N6.309 billion.”

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.