#Abia Online
The Governor of Abia State Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu joined the Governors of Kaduna State Nasiru El Rufai, Jubrilla Bindo of Adamawa State and the Deputy Governor of Ogun State Chief Mrs Yetunde Onanuga at Kaduna State Governor’s lodge for the National committee on Industrial Policy and Competitiveness. The sub committee set up by the National Economic Council is to design a new Industrial and competiveness road map for the country. Other members of the committee present includes; the Minister of State Industry, Trade and Investment and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Budget and National Planning who serves as the secretary of the committee.
In his opening remarks the chairman of the committee Governor Nasiru El Rufai of Kaduna State opined that theirs was a very important task to reposition the country as an investment destination and improve the nation’s ease of doing business ranking. He thanked the NEC for finding them capable of discharging the responsibility and assured that with the caliber of persons in the committee, their recommendations will impact positively on the Nation’s economy. He called on the Federal government to create enabling support to enhance the capacity of states to deliver sustainable infrastructures particularly roads that will lead to economic development.
The Committee’s Terms of References include issues around deepening the deployment broadband to enhance Internet penetration across the country, harmonization of Taxes, robust support to grow MSMEs, development of efficient land administration process, facilitation of cross country business linkages, enhancement of security architecture to support business growth and generally improving the business operating environment to boost the confidence of investors especially foreign investors that will lead to massive industrialization for job creation and economic boost.
One of the high points of the committee’s deliberations was Governor Ikpeazu’s recommendation to the Federal Government to look into the issues of moribund industries littered across the country and see to their revival to reduce the nation’s unemployment burden and other negative socioeconomic indices.
[7:10 AM, 11/4/2017] Newman Ubani 2: RECEIPT AND MANAGEMENT OF INTERVENTION FUNDS (bailout and Paris Club Refund) IN ABIA STATE
The receipt of the intervention funds has become a source of concern to some analyst, pundits, social critics and political commentators. Some comments have been made in the print and social media which were half truths and sometimes outright lies. May I use this opportunity to briefly state the facts.
Interestingly, Abia State government received the following intervention funds from FG:
1. Bailout fund N14.2b
2. Paris refund (tranche 1) N10.6b
3. Paris refund (tranche 2) N5.7b
In line with the transparency approach to governance of the current administration, after the receipt of the first intervention (Bailout) fund, the Abia state government constituted a committee made up of the different labour Union leaders; namely NLC, TUC, NULGE, NUP, NUT and Joint Negotiating Council. The committee took charge of the disbursement of the funds to various areas of greater needs and exigencies.
Indeed, the exercise was conducted devoid of government intervention as 100% of funds received were expended in the services of workers’ payments. Thisexercise was (by all known standards) transparent and applauded by ICPC, who singled out Abia and two other States for their transparency in the disbursement and utilization of the fund.
There was also an express advice from the Federal Ministry of Finance for 50% of the first tranche of the Paris Refund to be dedicated to the payment of workers’salaries and wages. In addition to committing 50% as advised, the present administration disbursed an additional N600m to the payment of workers’ salaries and wages. Thus a total of N5.9b was spent therein.
The second tranche of the Paris refund received by Abia state was 100% spent on workers’ salaries and pensions. This has greatly curtailed the salary arrearsand responsibilities of the government.
Overall, Abia received a total sum of N16.3B from the Paris Club refund and deployed N11.6B to service workers/pensioners wage bill. This translates to a commitment of more than 71% of total receipt to service workers’ salaries and pension.
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It is on record that ICPC , Abia NLC, Nigerian Governors Forum and the National Assembly acknowledged that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu managed the bailout and Paris Fund Refunds better than any other Governor.
In the spirit of Transparency, you deserve to know exactly how he achieved that.
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