FEC steps down Works Ministry memos

By Egena Sunday Ode

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) stepped down memos on Ministry of Works projects listed for deliberations at its meeting on Wednesday.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcomes of the cabinet meeting held at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said the affected memos were mostly from the Ministry of Works, especially those that required argumentation.

Idris who was joined at the post FEC briefing by the Ministers of Budget and Natoonal Planning, Atiku Bagudu and the Artoney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, explained that the affected projects would be reviewed before FEC could deliberate on them.

He said: “Of significant note is that there is a decision of the federal executive council to step down, some memos, especially those from the Ministry of Works until the next federal executive council meeting.

“Now, the idea is to re-examine, especially those parts that require augmentation or review. The Minister of Works has been directed to work with the Honorable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning and the Minister of Finance to look at those projects again, and bring them in line strictly with budgetary provisions, where there is a necessity of additional funding, this will be brought back to the federal executive council meeting next time for further deliberation.”

The Minister further President Bola Tinubu who presided over Wednesday’s FEC meeting, in order to ensure probity, proficiency and diligence in project execution, “has directed that all projects that require additional funding especially major project of the Ministry of Works, be looked at once again so that there will be further deliberation on that at the next council meeting.”

Idris said FEC also deliberated on the National Council on Procurement for which a bill would be sent to the National Assembly for an amendment.

He said FEC equally had discussion on the report by a national newspaper which alleged the a certain loan granted to the Federal Government recently was tied to LGBT, popularly known as Samoa agreement, declaring it false and misleading.

According to him, the Federal Government, had reported the media organisation to the industry’s ombudsman to call it to order.

“We expect that the industry’s ombudsman will look at that dispassionately. And the Federal Executive Council will be patient to await the report of the Ombudsman.”