• Approves MediPool to lower drug costs
• 17 underwriters for Tinubu, Shettima, SGF others’ life assurance scheme
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, yesterday, directed the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, to strengthen legislations that will criminalise usurpers of government assets under the cover of the night in the country.
It also approved the establishment of MediPool, a new purchasing organisation designed to drive down the cost of essential medicines and improve nationwide access to high-quality pharmaceutical products.
The cabinet similarly approved 17 underwriters for the Group Life Assurance Scheme for the President, Vice President, Chief of Staff to the President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), ministers and Federal Government workers
This, according to the FEC at its sixth session, is aimed at mitigating the unwholesome activities of scrap metal vendors, miners and cart pushers, among others, who steal critical government assets in the country.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who briefed newsmen after the closed-door meeting presided over by Tinubu, said the council expressed concern over the development; hence the decision to criminalise the activity.
He said: “There is also a conversation, I mean, a discussion around some scrap metal vendors, or miners, or whatever you call them. We have seen increased activity among people who unscrupulously go to steal some of these government assets on the road, at bridges and other critical metals that they take to go and sell.
“The Federal Government is already mulling the possibility of criminalising this. Of course, we already have some of these laws in existence, but we are looking at them in depth. The AGF has been directed to look at that. There’s an increased activity that the government has noted where people go, especially in the cover of the night. ”
This came as the council also approved a new national policy on employment generation for the country. The new policy will unfold new strategies to address the challenges of unemployment, poverty and highlight economic opportunities for the productive and employment of Nigerians.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, said: “My memo is just one, but it’s a very important memo to the labour sector in general. This memo has to do with jobs. We have been able to get approval, to implement it, reduce it, then to send it to our stakeholders that this national policy on employment has been approved.
According to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, MediPool is a core part of the Tinubu administration’s broader push to reform Nigeria’s healthcare value chain and tackle the persistent rise in drug prices.
“Today, the council approved MediPool, a group purchasing organisation for competitive pricing and to be a supplier of essential medicines and healthcare products across Nigeria,” he said.
Pate explained that MediPool would operate as a public-private partnership, leveraging the government’s significant purchasing power to negotiate better prices from suppliers.
The platform will initially serve through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and eventually expand to federal tertiary hospitals. The scope of MediPool’s responsibilities includes procurement planning, supply chain and logistics management, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, financial systems and support for local manufacturers. It also includes capacity building and contingency planning to ensure a steady supply of affordable, high-quality drugs.
HEAD of Civil Service of the Federation (HoSF), Dr Didi Walson-Jack, disclosed that the approval for the 17 underwriters would cover 2025/2027 policy year, adding that the policy would commence from the date of payment of premium to underwriters in line with the no premium, no cover policy. She further explained that the policy also covers paramilitary organisations.
“I have the privilege to present the approval of FEC as regards the Group Life Assurance Scheme. This scheme underscores the importance that the Tinubu administration placed on welfare of staff, specifically the welfare of the federal public servant. This means that if the unfortunate incident of death occurs, the deceased public servant’s next of kin stands to have a benefit to help the family cushion the family at that time of loss.”
