President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has approved the suspension of monthly deduction at source, for April, for states that received salary assistance loans from the Federal Government and no such deductions would be made this month from the FAAC allocations to the states.
According to Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity in the Office of the Vice President, the decision was revealed at the 66th National Economic Council (NEC) meeting which held on Thursday, presided over by Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
The decision is meant to give the states some financial relief at a time the FAAC allocations are dwindling due to the drop in oil prices as Osinbajo added that the President would continue to review the situation of the states on an ongoing basis and take appropriate relief measures as necessary and possible.
Giving an update on states that have received bailout funds, the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, reported to the Council that a total of N689.5 billion had been disbursed as salary assistance loan to states and an additional N310 billion disbursed as Excess Crude Account-backed loans to states.
On excess crude proceed, the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, told the Council that the Account as a balance of $2.3 billion.
She also said that nominees had been selected to form a Search Committee that will bring up names of potential Board members of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA)
Osinbajo informed the Council of the reconstitution process of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), with representatives from states based on the six geo-political zones as follows:
North-Central by Plateau State; North-East by Adamawa State; North-West by Kebbi State; South-East by Anambra State; South-West by Lagos State and South-South by Edo State.
Also, Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Boboye Oyeyemi, was also in attendance to present the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy Document (NRSS – 2014-2018) to the Council.
He revealed that the document serves to address current overlaps, streamline the role and responsibilities of all participants to maximize the benefits of investment in road safety management activities as NEC endorsed the strategy.
