NEC Urges For Flood Mitigation, COVID-19 Cases Rise By 3%

The National Economic Council (NEC) is emphasising the need for states to adopt strategies to improve service delivery at the grassroots and also on how to mitigate the flood disasters this season.

These were some of the highlights of the council’s meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa.

According to a statement by presidential spokesman, Laolu Akande, the council received a briefing from the ministry of humanitarian affairs and the National Emergency Management Agency.

He said the response strategy adopted by the council was the operationalization of the NEMA call center, identification of equipment and personnel, emergency relief Intervention: Food and Non-food items to impacted communities, and compiling records of sudden onset disasters nationwide

Consequently, the states decided to “Implement measures in the National flood emergency preparedness and response plan

“Equip NEMA, SEMA, and other response agencies with necessary resources for the emergency response to communities and persons affected by flood “Strengthen states and LGAs institutions for flood preparedness, Mitigation, and Response, etc.”

Also, at the meeting, outgoing Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), lauded the Vice President, stating that with the VP as NEC Chairman, the Council has done a lot to ensure that the country is a true federation, while expressing his appreciation to the Council, the VP, and the President.

According to Dr. Fayemi, having served in previous NEC and longer than most current members, he can affirm that the VP’s leadership has been outstanding, adding that the Council has never had the kind of leadership that Prof. Osinbajo has provided.

He hoped that such leadership of NEC would be maintained going forward.

In his remarks, the Vice President commended the outgoing Ekiti State Governor, who was attending his last NEC meeting today.

Also, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) presented an update on COVID-19 and monkeypox For Covid 19” that the Global caseload is stable, high burden of cases in 2021 is comparable to 2022 so far “Test positivity rate in Nigeria is 16.9 percent as of the 36th week, no death in the past week, six states returned no testing at all “Trends show that COVID-19 cases have increased by three percent across the states and the FCT. It noted that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over.”

The NCDC, therefore, urged the states to commit to more testing, including routine testing and frequent testing for health workers stated that private health institutions should be encouraged to do more testing.

Read Also: Over 47 Million Nigerians Vaccinated against COVID-19 – NPHCDA

On the monkeypox situation” confirmed cases: 318 in 30 states, suspected cases: 815 in 36 states, deaths: 7 NPHCDA Presentation on Vaccination says “Nigeria reached 43% of the vaccination target with vaccination of 49 million. Agency is set to achieve 70% by December 2022.

“Some states come tops in the vaccination drive: they are Nasarawa, Jigawa, Kwara, Osun, and Kaduna. 1.4m child shave occurred during Vaccination exercises NPHCDA appealed to the governors to convene LGA meetings, including officials, and traditional and religious leaders to mobilise for Vaccination.

Akande also said the council noted that the NSIA (Establishment) Act, 2011 provides that all appointments of individuals into the Board of Directors “shall be made by the President on the recommendations of the minister of finance, who shall consult with the National Economic Council (NEC).”

“Council was also called to note that following the notification of the expiration of the tenures of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Directors, the Honorable Minister constituted the Executive Nomination Committee (ENC) to fill the vacant positions;

“Council then noted that the outgoing Managing Director/Chief Executive officer will expire on the 30th September 2022.

“Finance minister presented the outcome of the search to fill the positions of NSIA MD/CEO and 2 Executive Directors which are becoming vacant with the expiration of the terms of the current holders. The names of the nominees were presented, and NEC gave its endorsement to the President for his approval.”

The Vice President, on behalf of the NEC, praised Governor Fayemi, especially in his role as Chair of the NGF, and noted his “informed and patriotic contributions” to the work of the NEC.

The VP also commended the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning who serves as council secretary, Mrs. Olusola Idowu, as she retires from public service.

According to the vice president “we like to commend her leadership and great contribution to make the Council work orderly and well-resourced over the years.”

He also prayed for her, that she would continue to render great service both nationally and globally.

Earlier Governor Fayemi had commended the VP for ensuring as NEC chair that the Council has done a lot to ensure we are a true federation and expressed his appreciation to the council, the VP, and the President.

Also, the deputy governor of Akwa Ibom, Mr. Moses Frank Ekpo, commended the VP’s leadership of the council and paid tributes also to the outgoing NGF Chairman for leading the Forum so ably. He also thanked the outgoing Council Secretary for a job well done.

The vice president agreed with him that, indeed, the NEC and NGF are ensuring that the country moves as a nation even more towards a true federation, not just in words but in action.

He then prayed that Fayemi would continue to rise globally and nationally in every way.