State police: NEC gives compliance deadline to three states, FCT

Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso (left); Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Dr Emeka Obi; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu and Vice President Kashim Shettima during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja…yesterday.

NEC moves to end grid collapse, sets up panel on national electrification

The National Economic Council (NEC), yesterday, gave a one-week ultimatum to three Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to submit their position paper on the proposed creation of state police.

Governor of Bayelsa State, Duoye Diri, who briefed newsmen at the end of the NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, mentioned that three states, Adamawa, Kebbi and Kwara, as well as FCT, continued to dilly-dally in the assignment.

NEC also resolved to reinforce the implementation of the National Electrification Strategy to end the collapse of the nation’s power grid.

Although it was explained that a deputy governor represented one of the three states during the meeting and announced that the state had submitted its position paper on the creation of state police, the NEC secretariat, however, could not confirm receiving it.

Diri said the one-week deadline was one of the outcomes of the council meeting.

He said, “Council was updated with the submission of the establishment of state police, and it was reported that 33 states have submitted their positions, while three states are yet to do so. These three states are Adamawa, Kebbi and, incidentally, Kwara, whose governor is the chairman of our forum, and the FCT, are yet to submit their positions.

“The council mandated these remaining states and FCT to make their submissions within the next one week and resolved to present a consolidated states’ position on the state police to the National Economic Council at our next meeting.”

On September 4, 2024, NEC gave a deadline to four states of Sokoto, Kebbi, Kwara, Adamawa and the FCT to submit their position papers on state creation before September 9, 2024.

NEC resolved to adopt the comprehensive reports from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT on the said date and warned that any of the four states that refused to submit its report before the deadline, any decision taken would be binding on it.

Acting governor of Oyo State, Abdulraheen Lawal, who briefed newsmen after the September 4 Council meeting, said the 36 states of the federation were supposed to submit their reports for consideration at the meeting.

Also, NEC gave the status of the Excess Crude Account (ECA), which it said stood at $473,754.57; the Stabilisation Account N33,324,135,076.39; and the Natural Resources Account, N26,847,747,854.93.

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu disclosed that NEC received a presentation by the chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission on the alternative funding of revenue for the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

SHETTIMA told NEC that “access to energy is a fundamental right” and not a privilege because electricity is the oxygen of economic growth.

Accordingly, the council constituted a committee on National Electrification to help address the challenges in the power sector.

The formation of the committee, headed by Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, was among the decisions taken by NEC at the end of its 146th meeting. The committee is to work towards deepening states’ engagements within the Electricity Reform Act 2023 and the National Electrification Strategy and Implementation Plan.

Following a presentation by the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), NEC observed that Nigeria needed a reformed and diversified electricity system, noting that by empowering states, accessibility and affordability of electricity can be enabled, ensuring that all regions effectively meet their specific energy needs.

Members of the committee include Governors Dikko Radda of Katsina, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Ademola Adeleke of Osun, Hope Uzodimma of Imo and Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau.

Others are Ministers of Finance, Wale Edun; Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu; Power, Adebayo Adelabu; Special Adviser to the President on NEC and Climate Change; Special Adviser to the President on Power; Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), and Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company.