05 May 2016, Abuja — A three-year target to achieve self-sufficiency in refined petroleum products was among 34 priority projects the Federal Executive Council (FEC) formally unveiled yesterday.
The priority projects were contained in a document presented by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning to the FEC, which was chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, who also confirmed media reports that the contentious 2016 budget has been returned to the National Assembly for the third time, however, disclosed that the Presidency was expecting a final copy for assent yesterday or today at the latest.
She was joined at the briefing by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, Ministers of State for Foreign Affairs, Khadijat Bukar Ibrahim and Industries as well as Trade and Investment, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar.
Mrs. Ahmed explained that the 34 priority projects were evolved with clear deliverable targets and were grouped into four broad objectives – security/policy governance; diversification of economy; succour for vulnerable Nigerians; and reflating the economy through investments.
Also among the priority projects is a plan to construct 5,000 primary health care centres across all local government areas in the country, she disclosed.
“Our ministry’s presentation was introducing to council for discussion priority economic activities that we need to undertake and ensure that the purpose for which the 2016 budget was made which is to stimulate the economy, to create jobs for our teeming youths and to extend support to the poor and very vulnerable is realised.
“We presented 34 strategic priority programmes that need to be realised within 2016. Each of these programmes has very clear deliverables and targets and indicators which will be measured to ensure that the respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) deliver on what we committed to implement.
- The Gurdian
