Doctor’s Strike: Governors Resolve To Mediate Between NARD And Affected States

*Sets Up Steering Committee On Implementation Of Petroleum Industry Act
*Cholera Hits 23 States, Records Over 47,000 Cases
*3,363 Vaccination Sites For Roll-Out Of Second Covid-19 Vaccination

The 36 State Governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Thursday set up a Steering Committee on the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.

The resolution was passed during the 33rd Teleconference meeting chaired by the NGF Chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.

According to the communiqué, the Governors after the presentation of an update on the PIB recently assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari by the NGF Chairman, unanimously “resolved to work with the Steering Committee set up by Mr. President to oversee the process of the implementation of the Act headed by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, on the areas of concern to the Forum.

“A Committee for this purpose chaired by the Governor of Nasarawa with a membership of the Governors of Abia, Ogun Kwara, Akwa Ibom, Gombe and Kaduna was constituted.”

Also at the meeting, the Governors after receiving an update report presented by Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab regarding the ongoing strike action by members of the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), “resolved to take a mediatory role to facilitate dialogue between NARD and the affected States.”

On COVID-19 vaccine administration, the Forum received an update on the second phase of the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out for the country from the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, who informed members that 3,363 vaccination sites across the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT have been designated for the roll out of the second phase of the Covid-19 vaccination.

“Members reiterated their commitment to provide leadership and oversight for the effective flag-off and implementation of the second phase of the vaccination exercise.

“On a related matter, members resolved to take additional measures to curb the resurgence of the spread of Covid-19 virus by working with the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) to develop applicable guidelines.

“The Forum’s Senior Health Advisor, Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab briefed Governors on the emerging cholera outbreak in the country which has so far affected 23 States, with over 47,000 cases recorded.

“State Governors took a common position on a holistic approach to addressing health security challenges by domesticating the National Action Plan for Health Security with the support from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to build core health security capacities in surveillance, laboratory network, emergency operations and workforce in all States.”

On the recent Federal High Court judgment on Value Added Tax (VAT), the Governors “resolved not to make any pronouncements until all litigations regarding the matter were concluded.”

After a presentation by the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Salihijo, on opportunities to strengthen collaboration between the Agency and States, the Forum resolved that each State should nominate a focal person who will work with the REA to coordinate rural electrification projects in all States.

This collaboration between States and REA will target among others, increase in energy access through new solar connections; and increased local content in off-grid solar value chains, including the assembly or manufacturing of components of off-grid solutions.

In the same vein, the Governors after receiving update on the States’ Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability (SFTAS) Program-for-Results (PforR), upcoming deadlines for the achievement of Disbursement-Linked Results (DLRs), the ongoing Annual Performance Assessment (APA) by the Independent Verification Agent (IVA) and the States’ debt reconciliation exercise being carried out in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning (FMBNP), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Debt Management Office (DMO), reiterated commitment towards providing the support and direction necessary to ensure the successful implementation of reforms recommended by the programme.