NEC encourages debate on Excess Crude Account

Also urged governors to adopt the performance contract system in their states The National Economic Council has resolved that the ongoing consultation on the issue of Excess Crude Account be sustained by the federal and state governments. Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed, stated this while briefing journalists at the State House, Abuja, at the end of the council meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo and attended by all state governors, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Ministers of Finance, National Planning and Federal Capital Territory as members. "After considering a report by the committee on the out-of-court settlement on the Excess Crude Account litigation, on the extent of the ongoing negotiations between the federal and state governments, NEC encouraged the counsels of both parties to continue the consultations towards working out an amicable solution," said Ahmed. He also said that council maintained its earlier position that if an out-of-court settlement could still be explored, both parties should go ahead in the negotiation. He said the NEC also considered a presentation by the National Planning Minister on the new performance measurement and results delivery system in Nigeria which began at the federal level with the recent signing of performance contracts between President Goodluck Jonathan and the ministers and its extension between ministers/heads of agencies and permanent secretaries. He added that council approved the system and further resolved that the governor's forum should adopt it as part of its peer review mechanism. The governor said the NEC also agreed that states should establish a functional monitoring and evaluation department to coordinate the implementation of the framework and support performance management; adding that while the council resolved that states should conduct sensitisation/induction workshops for all commissioners, permanent secretaries, heads of agencies and parastatals and directors, the National Planning Commission was asked to co-ordinate the production of templates and provide overall technical support. He further disclosed that the Advisory Council approved the Great Green Wall programme which is seen as a lasting solution to the problems of desertification in Africa as presented by the Minister of Environment. According to him, the council advised the states to embrace the programme of implementation already developed by the Ministry of Environment, which included the establishment of an agency for the implementation of GGW. The NEC further encouraged the states to establish their own State Council on Shelterbelt and Afforestation. Membership of the State Council will include the Deputy Governor, the SSG, and Commissioners of line ministries, while the Ministry of Environment will. serve as secretariat with an appointed Desk Officer for GGW. Council also commended the governors forum for its decision to fully support and participate in the nationwide Good Governance Tour which started on Thursday in Abuja. The decision, Ahmed said, was reached following a report by the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, who is the chairman of NEC's ad-hoc committee on the tour. Source Daily Times Ng