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Presidency reveal plans for Post-COVID-19

By Daniel Anazia
16 May 2020   |   3:41 am
WITH the global anxiety on what the future holds for humanity aftermath the COVID-19, particularly in respect of the economy, healthcare, job security, and general wellbeing, President Muhammadu Buhari has draw up a checklist of some measures to make life better for Nigerians.

WITH the global anxiety on what the future holds for humanity aftermath the COVID-19, particularly in respect of the economy, healthcare, job security, and general wellbeing, President Muhammadu Buhari has draw up a checklist of some measures to make life better for Nigerians.

According to Special Adviser to the President on Media, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement issued, naturally, Nigerians are not immune from the disquietude, as they belong to the global community. He stated that the measures would assuage some apprehensions.

He added that an Economic Sustainability Committee headed by the Vice President has been set up to define a post-COVID-19 economy for Nigeria. While an economic team, headed by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning is to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the economy.

Adesina also revealed that a Task force on free movement of farm produce has also been set up, and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development heads it.He further explained that plans underway to tackle weak health systems and infrastructure through establishment of standard laboratories, intensive care units, and isolation centres in all states of the federation.

“The health infrastructure will eventually be recalibrated for the good of the people, and in readiness for future emergencies. As long-term measure, emphasis will be placed on integrating local content in proven researches in cure, and production of materials in the heath sector,” he said.

Adesina also revealed that a Fiscal Sustainability Plan (FSP) to complement the suite of monetary and banking interventions recently announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria has been put in place.

He added that a mass agricultural programme is set to be put in place, major rural road construction programme, mass housing programme, large scale installation of residential solar systems, utilizing mainly local materials, and expansion of the Social Investment Programme (SIP).

According to him, the 2020-2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (M-TEF) and the Budget 2020 assumptions and targets have already been revised, adding that time-sensitive expenditures are to be prioritised over less critical spending.

“Extant financial controls are to be strengthened to detect, eliminate and sanction instances of waste, funds misappropriation and corruption,” Adesina stated.

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