The federal government has approved new criteria for the
disbursement of the Ecological Fund to beneficiary states.
This followed the recommendations by the National Economic Council
(NEC) ad-hoc committee chaired by Kaduna State governor, Nasir
el-Rufai.
This was disclosed by Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, after
NEC meeting presided over by acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the
presidential villa.
He noted that the committee recommended among other things, “a
robust governance structure and a stringent disbursement criteria
to sanitise the management of the fund”.
He listed the criteria to include physical visitation by the
Ecological office team, on-the-spot assessment and verification of
the ecological disaster, technical evaluation of the disaster by
experts and community involvement.
His words: “NEC approved that prior to the disaster, there must
be evidence of advocacy, evidence of existing prompt and emergency
response mechanism in place before the disaster.
“Monitoring and evaluation framework must now be built into the
application of Ecological Fund as a road map for measuring
performance of the fund.
“A feedback team that will review the reports of the
disbursement must be in place while adequate publicity of
Ecological disaster to create awareness and consciousness in the
citizenry to avoid future occurrence is now necessary.
“Also, evidence of cost estimate must be attached to
application, adequate justification for the project must be given
while due process in vendor engagement must be followed.
“NEC also approved the recommendations that at all times, 50% of
the federal government’s share or N20 billion must be reserved for
emergencies at the discretion of Mr President”.
Ikpeazu further disclosed that the council was briefed on the
balances in the following accounts as at 19th July, 2017: Excess
Crude Account (ECA), $2.303 billion; Ecological Fund Account,
N27.466 billion; Stabilization Account, N2.553 billion and
Development of Natural Resources Account, N77.922 billion.
On his part, the minister of Industry, Trade and Investment,
Okechukwu Enelemah, said he made a presentation to Council on
reforming Nigeria at the subnational level, emphasising the need to
bring Enabling Business Environment Reforms to all tiers of
government and indeed to all Nigeria.
He said he informed Council that there was a strong correlation
between Ease of Doing Businesses Ranking and Economic
prosperity.
He said the Businesses Enabling Environment Agenda being
coordinated by the Presidential Enabling Businesses Council was at
the heart of government agenda, whose mandate is to remove critical
bottlenecks and bureaucratic constraints to doing businesses in
Nigeria, aimed at moving the country upwards in global businesses
ranking.
He said areas of focus in removing the bottlenecks include
starting a business, entry and exit of people, getting electricity,
registering property, getting credit, paying taxes, trading across
borders and the ease of getting construction permits.
Enelemah said Council was also informed that the 4th subnational
Doing Business rankings for Nigeria is scheduled for 2018, with the
1st, 2nd and 3rd having taken place in 2008, 2010 and 2014,
respectively.
He noted that appropriate templates were already being drawn up
to prepare states for the exercise.
He also added that some states such as Kaduna, Ogun, Cross River
and Anambra have already commenced work to improve the ease of
doing business in their respective domains.
He added that a National Steering Committee had already been
constituted to ensure synergy across all stakeholders to ensure the
coordinated delivery of the reform objectives.
“Council urged that the ministry should work with an already
existing committee being chaired by the minister of state for
Budget and National Planning in this regard”, he stated.
The Ministry of Budget and National Planning submitted a draft
Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2018-2021 to NEC for
input as part of efforts to meet the October deadline to submit the
2018 budget to the National Assembly.
Minister of state in the ministry, Hajia Zainab Ahmed, said the
MTEF would be submitted to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in
two weeks for final approval and preparation for onward
transmission to the National Assembly.
Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shitu, presented a Memo to
Council on the need for harmonisation of the Right of Way (RoW)
charges in respect of telecommunication and related public utility
infrastructure on local governments’ councils (LGCs), states and
federal highways.
He said the memo spelt out roles/responsibilities of LGCs,
states and telecommunication operators in the management of Right
of Way (RoW) issues.
He stated that he informed Council that most states were still
charging different and higher rates, despite NEC’s resolution that
mandated states to adopt and implement federal ministry of Works
guidelines for grant of Right of Way to ICT service on
highways.
He said the current practice in Nigeria where various
telecommunication operators design, survey, dig, deploy and manage
their individual fibres networks amounted to duplication of
efforts, multiple earthworks and trenches as well as increased
administrative and licensing costs.
Shittu’s memo advised all stakeholders to consider, adopt and
approve the use of shared duct strategy, managed by a designated
agency in all tiers of government for the deployment of public
utility infrastructure for effective and efficient service delivery
and accelerated socio-economic development of the country,
particularly the transformation of various cities, towns and
villages to a smart status.
NEC asked the Ministry of Communications to liaise with the
states and relevant stakeholders for the smooth implementation of
the Right of Way project.
The federal government has approved new criteria for the
disbursement of the Ecological Fund to beneficiary states.
This followed the recommendations by the National Economic Council
(NEC) ad-hoc committee chaired by Kaduna State governor, Nasir
el-Rufai.
This was disclosed by Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, after
NEC meeting presided over by acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the
presidential villa.
He noted that the committee recommended among other things, “a
robust governance structure and a stringent disbursement criteria
to sanitise the management of the fund”.
He listed the criteria to include physical visitation by the
Ecological office team, on-the-spot assessment and verification of
the ecological disaster, technical evaluation of the disaster by
experts and community involvement.
His words: “NEC approved that prior to the disaster, there must
be evidence of advocacy, evidence of existing prompt and emergency
response mechanism in place before the disaster.
“Monitoring and evaluation framework must now be built into the
application of Ecological Fund as a road map for measuring
performance of the fund.
“A feedback team that will review the reports of the
disbursement must be in place while adequate publicity of
Ecological disaster to create awareness and consciousness in the
citizenry to avoid future occurrence is now necessary.
“Also, evidence of cost estimate must be attached to
application, adequate justification for the project must be given
while due process in vendor engagement must be followed.
“NEC also approved the recommendations that at all times, 50% of
the federal government’s share or N20 billion must be reserved for
emergencies at the discretion of Mr President”.
Ikpeazu further disclosed that the council was briefed on the
balances in the following accounts as at 19th July, 2017: Excess
Crude Account (ECA), $2.303 billion; Ecological Fund Account,
N27.466 billion; Stabilization Account, N2.553 billion and
Development of Natural Resources Account, N77.922 billion.
On his part, the minister of Industry, Trade and Investment,
Okechukwu Enelemah, said he made a presentation to Council on
reforming Nigeria at the subnational level, emphasising the need to
bring Enabling Business Environment Reforms to all tiers of
government and indeed to all Nigeria.
He said he informed Council that there was a strong correlation
between Ease of Doing Businesses Ranking and Economic
prosperity.
He said the Businesses Enabling Environment Agenda being
coordinated by the Presidential Enabling Businesses Council was at
the heart of government agenda, whose mandate is to remove critical
bottlenecks and bureaucratic constraints to doing businesses in
Nigeria, aimed at moving the country upwards in global businesses
ranking.
He said areas of focus in removing the bottlenecks include
starting a business, entry and exit of people, getting electricity,
registering property, getting credit, paying taxes, trading across
borders and the ease of getting construction permits.
Enelemah said Council was also informed that the 4th subnational
Doing Business rankings for Nigeria is scheduled for 2018, with the
1st, 2nd and 3rd having taken place in 2008, 2010 and 2014,
respectively.
He noted that appropriate templates were already being drawn up
to prepare states for the exercise.
He also added that some states such as Kaduna, Ogun, Cross River
and Anambra have already commenced work to improve the ease of
doing business in their respective domains.
He added that a National Steering Committee had already been
constituted to ensure synergy across all stakeholders to ensure the
coordinated delivery of the reform objectives.
“Council urged that the ministry should work with an already
existing committee being chaired by the minister of state for
Budget and National Planning in this regard”, he stated.
The Ministry of Budget and National Planning submitted a draft
Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2018-2021 to NEC for
input as part of efforts to meet the October deadline to submit the
2018 budget to the National Assembly.
Minister of state in the ministry, Hajia Zainab Ahmed, said the
MTEF would be submitted to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in
two weeks for final approval and preparation for onward
transmission to the National Assembly.
Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shitu, presented a Memo to
Council on the need for harmonisation of the Right of Way (RoW)
charges in respect of telecommunication and related public utility
infrastructure on local governments’ councils (LGCs), states and
federal highways.
He said the memo spelt out roles/responsibilities of LGCs,
states and telecommunication operators in the management of Right
of Way (RoW) issues.
He stated that he informed Council that most states were still
charging different and higher rates, despite NEC’s resolution that
mandated states to adopt and implement federal ministry of Works
guidelines for grant of Right of Way to ICT service on
highways.
He said the current practice in Nigeria where various
telecommunication operators design, survey, dig, deploy and manage
their individual fibres networks amounted to duplication of
efforts, multiple earthworks and trenches as well as increased
administrative and licensing costs.
Shittu’s memo advised all stakeholders to consider, adopt and
approve the use of shared duct strategy, managed by a designated
agency in all tiers of government for the deployment of public
utility infrastructure for effective and efficient service delivery
and accelerated socio-economic development of the country,
particularly the transformation of various cities, towns and
villages to a smart status.
NEC asked the Ministry of Communications to liaise with the
states and relevant stakeholders for the smooth implementation of
the Right of Way project.
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