Jean Castex looks on at the police station of La Courneuve, a
northern Paris suburb, on July 5, 2020, during one of his first
official visits following his appointment as Premier on July 3.
(Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
France’s prime minister urged the population to take
“responsibility” for limiting the coronavirus outbreak by wearing
masks to protect one another, saying a new epidemic lockdown cannot
be ruled out.
In an interview with France Inter, Jean Castex said people who
resisted mask-wearing, now compulsory in the workplace, enclosed
public spaces and on public transport, should “think of
others”.
“They all have vulnerable and elderly people in their families.
People feel invincible and think that they do not need a mask.
“People will contaminate others,” he warned. “I appeal to a
sense of responsibility.”
Castex said the French government alone could not bear all
responsibility for curbing the outbreak, and “everyone must feel
invested in the fight against the epidemic.”
France on Tuesday reported over 3,300 new infections in 24
hours, with new admissions to hospital and intensive care also
continuing an upward trend observed in recent weeks following a dip
brought about by a near two-month social lockdown.
Asked whether the government could issue new stay-at-home orders
if the situation spirals out of control, Castex said Wednesday “all
hypotheses” were on the table, though a new lockdown was “not the
goal” given the severe economic impacts.
– ‘Cannot drop our guard’ –
The government is to unveil details of an economic revival plan
worth some 100 billion euros ($118 billion) on Thursday next week,
and Castex announced the cultural sector would receive two billion
euros to cover lost revenue.
He added a 5,000-person limit for concerts and sporting events
will remain in place.
In addition, local authorities in departments with high virus
rates, including the Paris Ile-de-France region, will no longer
have the power to grant exceptions to the attendance limit.
Given that no proven vaccine or cure exists, Castex warned the
population must learn to “live with the virus”.
But life also has to go on, and Castex said the government would
do all it can for the French to resume work, school and social and
cultural participation “as normally as possible”.
Masks are being made compulsory for children aged 11 and older
when they return to school next week and will be provided for free
to those at particular risk or cannot afford it.
But “we are not going to pay for masks for families that don’t
need” assistance, said the premier.
Masks are now compulsory in the busiest areas of many French
towns and cities, including the capital.
On Tuesday, the southern port city of Marseille became the
latest to make face coverings compulsory city-wide outdoors, while
bars and restaurants will close every day at 11 pm.
AFP
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2020/08/26/french-pm-urges-public-responsibility-in-covid-19-battle/
Agenda 2050: Minister
Seeks Bottom-Up Approach for Implementation
The Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem
Ikanade Agba, has stated that the Technical Working
Groups (TWGs) Anchors and Heads of Secretariat are critical to the
development of the Medium and Long-Term National Development Plans,
especially in liaising with other stakeholders such as coordinators
and deputy coordinators drawn from state and non state actors.
The Minister stated this in Abuja, while declaring open a
3-day Capacity Building workshop organized for TWGs Anchors and
Heads of Secretariat constituted for the development of the
Medium Term National Development Plans (2021 – 2025 & 2026 – 2030)
and Long-Term National Development Plans (Agenda 2050).
He noted that the history of development planning in Nigeria showed
a general lack of coordination and harmonization of
programmes/policies, which he stated had also not benefited from a
bottom-up approach, which negatively affected implementation.
“As a responsible government desirous of changing the fortune of
Nigerians and the future of generations yet unborn, the
administration of President Muhammadu Buhari desires that we
periodically draw comprehensive plans through which the welfare of
citizens can be enhanced economically, socially and politically
among others,” he added.
Agba said that the new plans being articulated were expected to
address development challenges in all aspects of the country’s
national life within the agreed timeframe.
According to him, “the planning process is also inclusive and
participatory with the full involvement of the Sub-National
governments (States and Local Governments), the Organized Private
Sector, the major political parties, the National Assembly, youth
and women organizations, the physically challenged, and other
relevant stakeholders.”
“This way, we would have a truly Nigerian National Development Plan
and not a federal government plan,” he explained.
Agba further expressed satisfaction with the various topics
selected for the workshop, which included the history and
trajectory of development planning in Nigeria; development planning
process, Institutional Arrangements for Effective Plan
Implementation, Understanding the Macroeconomic Framework for the
MTNDP 2021-2025, MTNDP 2026-2030 and National Agenda 2050,
Institutional Arrangements for Effective Plan
Implementation.
The Minister commended Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) of Germany,
co-organizers, its Nigerian Country Representative, Dr. Vladimir
Kreck for their continuous support to the Ministry and especially
in organizing and funding the programme.
He recalled that just recently, KAS partnered the Ministry in
organizing a similar capacity building programme for Special
Advisers of the Ministers, stressing that the training was timely
and impact-full as attested to by the participants.
Earlier, KAS Country Representative said the organization decided
to support Nigeria in organizing the workshop given “the manifold
social and economic problems COVID-19 had entailed.”
“This seminar will empower the participants to contribute
efficiently and successfully to the process of creating a
substantial Medium-Term National Development Plan for Nigeria”, he
added.
Imaobong Udoh
for: Director(Information)BNP
26th August, 2020.