Doctor’s Strike: Governors Resolve To Mediate Between NARD And Affected States

*Sets Up Steering Committee On Implementation Of Petroleum
Industry Act
*Cholera Hits 23 States, Records Over 47,000 Cases
*3,363 Vaccination Sites For Roll-Out Of Second Covid-19
Vaccination

The 36 State Governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’
Forum (NGF) on Thursday set up a Steering Committee on the
implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.

The resolution was passed during the 33rd Teleconference meeting
chaired by the NGF Chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti
State.

According to the communiqué, the Governors after the
presentation of an update on the PIB recently assented to by
President Muhammadu Buhari by the NGF Chairman, unanimously
“resolved to work with the Steering Committee set up by Mr.
President to oversee the process of the implementation of the Act
headed by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief
Timipre Sylva, on the areas of concern to the Forum.

“A Committee for this purpose chaired by the Governor of
Nasarawa with a membership of the Governors of Abia, Ogun Kwara,
Akwa Ibom, Gombe and Kaduna was constituted.”

Also at the meeting, the Governors after receiving an update
report presented by Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab regarding the ongoing
strike action by members of the Nigeria Association of Resident
Doctors (NARD), “resolved to take a mediatory role to facilitate
dialogue between NARD and the affected States.”

On COVID-19 vaccine administration, the Forum received an update
on the second phase of the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out for the
country from the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the
National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr.
Faisal Shuaib, who informed members that 3,363 vaccination sites
across the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT have been
designated for the roll out of the second phase of the Covid-19
vaccination.

“Members reiterated their commitment to provide leadership and
oversight for the effective flag-off and implementation of the
second phase of the vaccination exercise.

“On a related matter, members resolved to take additional
measures to curb the resurgence of the spread of Covid-19 virus by
working with the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) to develop
applicable guidelines.

“The Forum’s Senior Health Advisor, Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab briefed
Governors on the emerging cholera outbreak in the country which has
so far affected 23 States, with over 47,000 cases recorded.

“State Governors took a common position on a holistic approach
to addressing health security challenges by domesticating the
National Action Plan for Health Security with the support from the
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to build core health
security capacities in surveillance, laboratory network, emergency
operations and workforce in all States.”

On the recent Federal High Court judgment on Value Added Tax
(VAT), the Governors “resolved not to make any pronouncements until
all litigations regarding the matter were concluded.”

After a presentation by the Managing Director of the Rural
Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Salihijo, on opportunities to
strengthen collaboration between the Agency and States, the Forum
resolved that each State should nominate a focal person who will
work with the REA to coordinate rural electrification projects in
all States.

This collaboration between States and REA will target among
others, increase in energy access through new solar connections;
and increased local content in off-grid solar value chains,
including the assembly or manufacturing of components of off-grid
solutions.

In the same vein, the Governors after receiving update on the
States’ Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability
(SFTAS) Program-for-Results (PforR), upcoming deadlines for the
achievement of Disbursement-Linked Results (DLRs), the ongoing
Annual Performance Assessment (APA) by the Independent Verification
Agent (IVA) and the States’ debt reconciliation exercise being
carried out in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Finance,
Budget and National Planning (FMBNP), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
and Debt Management Office (DMO), reiterated commitment towards
providing the support and direction necessary to ensure the
successful implementation of reforms recommended by the
programme.

*Sets Up Steering Committee On Implementation Of Petroleum
Industry Act
*Cholera Hits 23 States, Records Over 47,000 Cases
*3,363 Vaccination Sites For Roll-Out Of Second Covid-19
Vaccination

The 36 State Governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’
Forum (NGF) on Thursday set up a Steering Committee on the
implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.

The resolution was passed during the 33rd Teleconference meeting
chaired by the NGF Chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti
State.

According to the communiqué, the Governors after the
presentation of an update on the PIB recently assented to by
President Muhammadu Buhari by the NGF Chairman, unanimously
“resolved to work with the Steering Committee set up by Mr.
President to oversee the process of the implementation of the Act
headed by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief
Timipre Sylva, on the areas of concern to the Forum.

“A Committee for this purpose chaired by the Governor of
Nasarawa with a membership of the Governors of Abia, Ogun Kwara,
Akwa Ibom, Gombe and Kaduna was constituted.”

Also at the meeting, the Governors after receiving an update
report presented by Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab regarding the ongoing
strike action by members of the Nigeria Association of Resident
Doctors (NARD), “resolved to take a mediatory role to facilitate
dialogue between NARD and the affected States.”

On COVID-19 vaccine administration, the Forum received an update
on the second phase of the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out for the
country from the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the
National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr.
Faisal Shuaib, who informed members that 3,363 vaccination sites
across the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT have been
designated for the roll out of the second phase of the Covid-19
vaccination.

“Members reiterated their commitment to provide leadership and
oversight for the effective flag-off and implementation of the
second phase of the vaccination exercise.

“On a related matter, members resolved to take additional
measures to curb the resurgence of the spread of Covid-19 virus by
working with the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) to develop
applicable guidelines.

“The Forum’s Senior Health Advisor, Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab briefed
Governors on the emerging cholera outbreak in the country which has
so far affected 23 States, with over 47,000 cases recorded.

“State Governors took a common position on a holistic approach
to addressing health security challenges by domesticating the
National Action Plan for Health Security with the support from the
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to build core health
security capacities in surveillance, laboratory network, emergency
operations and workforce in all States.”

On the recent Federal High Court judgment on Value Added Tax
(VAT), the Governors “resolved not to make any pronouncements until
all litigations regarding the matter were concluded.”

After a presentation by the Managing Director of the Rural
Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Salihijo, on opportunities to
strengthen collaboration between the Agency and States, the Forum
resolved that each State should nominate a focal person who will
work with the REA to coordinate rural electrification projects in
all States.

This collaboration between States and REA will target among
others, increase in energy access through new solar connections;
and increased local content in off-grid solar value chains,
including the assembly or manufacturing of components of off-grid
solutions.

In the same vein, the Governors after receiving update on the
States’ Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability
(SFTAS) Program-for-Results (PforR), upcoming deadlines for the
achievement of Disbursement-Linked Results (DLRs), the ongoing
Annual Performance Assessment (APA) by the Independent Verification
Agent (IVA) and the States’ debt reconciliation exercise being
carried out in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Finance,
Budget and National Planning (FMBNP), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
and Debt Management Office (DMO), reiterated commitment towards
providing the support and direction necessary to ensure the
successful implementation of reforms recommended by the
programme.