Osinbajo Saddled With Responsibility Of Ending Herdsmen Killings

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By; SUNDAY ODE, Abuja
The National Economic Council (NEC) on Thursday appointed a 10-member committee to assist the Federal Government to bring an end to the gruesome killing of farmers across the country by herdsmen.
The committee consisting of nine governors is to be headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Gandoje who disclosed this to State House correspondents after Thursday’s NEC meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja said the committee would hold their inaugural meeting same day.
He said: “On the farmers and herdsmen crisis, council constituted a working group to collaborate with the federal government in addressing the issues of impunity regarding killings and violence.
“The committee consisting of nine governors under the chairmanship of the Vice President, will work in accordance with commensurate commitment to ensure that all perpetrators of violence are brought to book.
“The committee consists of governors of Zamfara, Kaduna, Adamawa, Benue, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Ebonyi and Oyo States. The committee has started its meeting right after this NEC meeting.”
The governor also said Council was briefed by the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun that the Excess Crude Account as at January 15 stood at 2.3 dollars, in spite of the rising price of crude oil at the international market.
His Ebony State counterpart, Dave Umahi who also spoken at the briefing said Council considered a domestic upgrade of funding for the treatment of persons living with HIV in the counrty.
According to Umahi, such an increase would reduce dependence on donor agencies for the treatment of persons living with the dreaded virus as well as other developemt indicators.
He said: “Council considered an update on the need for domestic funding for the treatment of persons living with HIV in Nigeria. The Honourable Minister of Health and Director-General of NACA made presentations seeking increased funding for HIV services in Nigeria in order to achieve the goal of eliminating HIV/AIDS by the Year 2030.
“The presentation stated that such an increase would reduce the dependency on donor funding for HIV services and the attendant development indicators.
“They also called for investment in HIV treatment that will lead to increased life expectancy in the country and a proportionate increase in GDP. They added that the need to invest in HIV/AIDS treatment is important because donor funding is on the decline because of economic circumstances.
“Reducing the gaps between those who require HIV medicare and treatment and those who are actually able to access it is another reason adduced to increasing investment in HIV.
“The presentation asked NEC to consider and approve the resolution of the 59th Council on Health that at least between 2.5 per cent to 1 per cent of the monthly federal allocations to states be earmarked for financing the implementation of HIV/AIDS sustainability roadmap.
“Council was also asked to consider and approve the universal free antenatal services and abolition of user fees associated with the prevention of mother to child transmission services.
“Council was also asked to request that the state health insurance scheme including HIV is an indicator for both testing and treatment particularly as related to community health insurance programme. Council noted and approved the recommendations above as requested.”
The governor also noted that the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole presented an emergency situation in Eboni where some health workers died of Lassa fever, with a promise by the federal Government to intervene urgently in the cases of Ebonyi and Ogun states.
“Let me also state that the honourable minister presented an emergency situation on Lassa Fever especially in Ebonyi State where some health workers died from Lassa Fever last week. So, the honourable minister briefed that it was agreed that the federal government was going to intervene very quickly in the cases of Ebonyi State and Ogun States where this epidemic has developed,” he said

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