…approves Rehabilitation of Six Teaching Hospitals.

The Federal Government has concluded to further consult State and Local Governments, as well as the private sector before announcing the much-anticipated new National Minimum Wage agreed upon by them.

This, according to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Muhammad Idris, was the reason the Federal Executive Council, FEC, stepped down the memorandum on the minimum wage brought before it.

However, this took State House correspondents off guard, as they were anxiously waiting to relate to Nigerians the figure the government had approved as the new National Minimum Wage.

Their anxiety was instead redirected to a situation that made them compete in sending flashes that the matter had been dropped.

This gave a signal that the government was seemingly paying lipservice to buy time, a perception the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Muhammad Idris, faulted.

“The President is not in opposition to the issue of increase in wages. We want an increase that is consistent with what Nigeria can take so that we don’t throw the country into some form of problem”.

Also briefing newsmen, the Minister of Health, Professor Ali Pate, said FEC had approved the rehabilitation and equipping of 6 teaching hospitals under a Public, Private, Partnership arrangement across the country.

“The hospitals are University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu, in the Southeast, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, in the South-south, University College Hospital, Ibadan, in the Southwest, in the North-central Zone is the National Hospital, Abuja, the Northeast has the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, and in the Northwest, Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital”.

On the outbreak of cholera in Lagos and other States, he said his Ministry was working with the State Governments to contain it, but advised Nigerians to observe sanitation and hygiene.

Similarly, the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, said Council had approved the procurement of 33 operational vehicles, as well as arms, ammunition, and anti-riot equipment for counter-narcotic operations of the National Drug Law Enforcement at 1.442 million dollars.

“The third in the series is the procurement of two units of full body scanners st both Abuja and Lagos International Airports to boost the operations of the NDLEA. This is at the cost of N985 million”.

Also approved is the ban on the use of single-use plastic materials in government establishments, proposed by the Federal Ministry of Environment.

The aim, according to the Minister of State for the Ministry, Mr. Iziaq Kunle, is to enforce biodiversity law.

“Plastic is one of the key challenges that we face. When you go to our drains, and when you talk about the issue of flooding, you find out that plastic waste is heavily incriminated”.

While explaining the economic situation of the country, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, said this administration had never relied on Ways and Means to fund itself.

“At no time have we gone to Mr. President and requested permission to seek funding from the Central Bank to pay anybody, be it external debt service, be it share capital cash calls or any other of the liabilities that the government has”.

On infrastructure development, the Minister of Works, Mr. David Umahi, said FEC had approved the review of the contract sums of some ongoing projects, including the Abuja-Kano and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressways, as well as the 2nd Niger Bridge.

END.