BUHARI'S SUGAR-COATED PILL TAKES ANTI-GRAFT WAR TO THE STATES By Garba Shehu

The recent agreement between the federal and state governments to implement a Fiscal Sustainability Plan, FSP marks a new level in President Muhammadu Buhari's ambitions to cure the Government at federal and state levels of their corruption ills.

Before now, observers had noted the existence of a gap between what the administration is doing at the center and the business-as-usual going on in the states, without regard to the political party in power.

NEC APPROVES FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY PLAN FOR STATE GOVTS WITH FOCUS ON ACCOUNTABILITY & TRANSPARENCY

HIGHLIGHT OF 67TH NEC MEETING – THURSDAY, 19TH MAY, 2016

The National Economic Council, NEC held its monthly meeting on Thursday, presided over by the Chairman of the Council, the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Senior Special Assistant-Media & Publicity in the Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande confirmed that besides other key highlights, the Council approved a Fiscal Sustainability Plan which is aimed at helping the states of the federation navigate the current economic conditions including a massive drop in Federation Account allocation funds.

NEC which is composed of all 36 State Governors and the CBN Governor, meets monthly.

HIGHLIGHTS

A. REPORT ON EXCESS CRUDE PROCEEDS
Honourable Minister of Finance (HMF) reported to the Council that the balance in the ECA stood at (USD 2,259,688,878.06 billion) as at 30th April, 2016. She disclosed that interest accrued on the account is USD 429,903.55 for the month of April 2016 experiencing a little drop in interest.

Economic Policies, Reasons For My Foreign Rrips - PMB

The Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has given reasons behind his foreign trips, saying it is for the sake of “presenting economic policies” to Nigeria’s partners and neighbours.

President Buhari said this on Thursday while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress, APC National Executive Committee, NEC, at its formal NEC meeting since the party assumed office on May 29, 2015.

Buhari appealed to the NEC mem to continue to make sacrifices as his administration seeks to revive the nation’s economy. He said he was aware that a lot of them are under pressure from Nigerians especially with regards to the difficult economic situation.

ASUP Strike: NEC meeting ongoing, may suspend strike

The Academic Staff union of Polytechnics, ASUP, is currently holding its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting. The meeting, being held in Abuja, is mainly to review the ongoing 10-month strike by the polytechnic lecturers.

The ASUP NEC meeting is holding two days after the leadership of the union held a ‘fruitful’ meeting with the new Education Minister, Ibrahim Shekarau, who was sworn-in by President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday.

The ASUP NEC consists of all chapter (polytechnic) chairmen of the union and the national executives.

A member of the NEC, who is attending the meeting, said on Saturday morning that the strike might be suspended after the meeting. “The strike is likely to be suspended at the end of the NEC meeting today following the outcome of the last meeting we had with the new Minster of Education,” the source said.

FG sets up technical committee to tackle herdsmen, farmers' border clashes in 17 states

The National Economic Council, NEC on Thursday moved to tackle the problem of the clashes between herdsmen and farmers which have resulted into deaths of hundreds across the country in the past few months with the setting up of a technical Committee to tackle the crisis.