President Bola Tinubu on Monday presided over the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Aso Rock villa.
The meeting had in attendance Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; as well as other members of the Council.
Below are the highlights of the meeting:
– MediPool for Affordable Medicines: The FEC approved the establishment of MediPool, a public-private partnership aimed at reducing the cost of medicines in Nigeria.
By leveraging the government’s purchasing power, MediPool will negotiate lower prices for essential medicines and healthcare products.
This initiative will improve the availability of high-quality pharmaceuticals, particularly for chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and heart diseases.
– Job Creation and Cultural Monetization: The Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, led by Hannatu Musawa, unveiled an initiative to monetize Nigeria’s rich cultural and tourism resources.
This new plan aims to contribute $100 billion to the nation’s economy by 2030 through the commercialization of both tangible assets (like national museum collections and historical landmarks) and intangible assets (such as indigenous languages and cultural festivals).
It will also create two million jobs, primarily targeting youth and communities connected to Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
– Revised National Employment Policy: A revision of the National Policy on Employment was approved after six years.
This updated policy aims to address challenges of unemployment and underemployment, with a focus on productive employment and entrepreneurship.
The changes reflect the evolving labour market and are seen as a key step toward reducing poverty and creating inclusive economic opportunities.
The policy will also be presented at the upcoming International Labour Organisation (ILO) conference.
– Group Life Assurance for Federal Employees: The FEC approved the renewal of the Group Life Assurance Scheme for federal public servants.
This programme provides financial support to the families of deceased federal workers, including high-ranking government officials.
The scheme covers a wide range of government personnel, from civil servants to paramilitary bodies, and aims to ensure the welfare of public service employees’ families.
– Approval for Cardiac Equipment: The FEC approved a N2.3 billion contract for the procurement of a cardiac catheterisation machine at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital in Sokoto. This equipment will enhance the hospital’s ability to diagnose and treat heart conditions.
