Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Leon Usigbe
Published on 2024-03-21 19:44:23
During the 139th session of the National Economic Council (NEC) in February, Vice President Kashim Shettima presided over discussions regarding the establishment of state police to enhance security in the country. At this meeting, it was agreed that all 36 states should submit reports on the progress of implementing state police. However, during the 140th meeting, held virtually, only 16 states had submitted their reports, leading to disappointment from the council chairman.
Neneolisa Anako, the Secretary of NEC, presented an update on the submissions regarding state police to the council. While all states expressed their support for the establishment of state police, only 16 had submitted their reports. The states recommended changes to the constitution and the current policing structure to enable the operationalization of state police. Shettima encouraged states that had not submitted their reports to do so promptly to facilitate comprehensive discussions on the topic at the next council meeting.
In addition to the discussions on state police, the council also discussed the state budget support facility. As of the March 2024 Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting, states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had an outstanding liability of N1,718,705,566,436.25. The update provided to NEC showed the current balances of the Excess Crude Account (ECA), Stabilization Account, and Current Balance of Natural Resources.
The NEC endorsed the implementation of the $617.7 million Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (i-DICE) program in all 36 states and the FCT. Shettima instructed state governors to nominate representatives for each geopolitical zone and focal persons to oversee the implementation of the program in their respective states. He assured that the implementation of the program would be diligent, committed, and forthright.
Shettima emphasized the administration’s commitment to leaving a legacy of prosperity and opportunity for all Nigerians. He highlighted the government’s focus on skill acquisition and job creation, noting that these initiatives were part of President Tinubu’s eight-point agenda. The administration aims to empower entrepreneurs and small business owners to drive innovation, job creation, and economic growth.
The Vice President expressed confidence in the government’s ability to achieve its short-term goals towards long-term strategies. He emphasized the importance of job creation and skill development across the nation to alleviate the citizens’ current challenges. Shettima urged governors and council members to prioritize initiatives that would improve the lives of Nigerian citizens.
The i-DICE program, a special intervention by the government, aims to create millions of jobs in the technology sector. It is supported by organizations such as the African Development Bank, the French Development Agency, and the Islamic Development Bank. The program will train and certify over 1.2 million youths in ICT skills, create thousands of jobs in each state, and generate over 5.5 million indirect jobs nationwide.
Overall, the NEC meetings highlighted the government’s commitment to improving security, economic prosperity, and job creation in Nigeria. The focus on state police implementation, budget support facilities, and the i-DICE program reflects the administration’s efforts to address key issues and create opportunities for all Nigerians.
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