• FEC okays draft bill for metallurgical industry

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N240.2 million to procure 37 SUVs for each of the states’ chair Coordinators of the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme in all the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu, who broke the news at the end of the weekly FEC meeting, in Abuja presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, said the cost of the purchase is inclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT), adding that the transaction would be carried out within one week.

Wogu, who briefed State House Correspondents along with the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku and the Minister of Solid Minerals, Mine and Steel Development, Muhammed Sada, explained that the Council resolved to buy the vehicles from Messrs Innoson Vehicle Manufacturer Company Limited based in Nnewi, Anambra State. The development, according to the minister is in line with the Federal Government’s policy to patronise locally manufactured vehicles through direct procurement method.

He said: “The Council approved a memorandum brought to seek council’s approval for the award of contract for the direct procurement of 44 IVM G5 Jeeps for the 44 chairmen of the states and FCT Coordination and Implementation Commission (SCIC) of the Community Services, Women and Youths Employment (CSWYE) project of SURE-P and the Implementation Unit (FPIU) at the headquarters.

“To effectively implement this project, it becomes important that utility vehicles are procured which will enhance monitoring and supervision of the community services, women and youths employment activities at the states and local government levels nationwide.”

He also said that there is a budgetary provision in the 2013 appropriation for the project, stressing that the approved vehicles, even though being purchased in a campaign year, were not meant for campaigns as the approval was done on a non-party basis.

Wogu said the various projects under the SURE-P bordering on road construction, education and health among other areas, were being implemented for the benefit of all Nigerians and not a particular political party.

The minister debunked the insinuation that the SURE-P projects are being used to empower only members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Sada said that the Council also approved the draft of the Nigerian Metallurgical Industry Bill, 2014, which aims to regulate the country’s metal industry.

He said the Bill will provide the necessary framework for the regulation of the Metal Industry in Nigeria, by ensuring that metallurgical products /raw materials being manufactured or imported into the country meet set standards as well as enforcing compliance with quality, safety and metallurgical environmental regulations.