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SUBSIDY REMOVAL: NEC SETS UP AD-HOC COMMITTEE TO LIAISE WITH LABOUR UNION LEADERSHIP

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SUBSIDY REMOVAL: NEC SETS UP AD-HOC COMMITTEE TO LIAISE WITH LABOUR UNION LEADERSHIP

Urges State Governments to upscale distribution of palliatives
Mourns military personnel killed in Niger State

By: Our Reporter

In a bid to create a forum for dialogue towards resolving issues surrounding the petrol subsidy removal across the States, the National Economic Council (NEC) has constituted an Ad-hoc Committee to engage with the leadership of labour unions.

The decision was reached at the 135th meeting of NEC chaired by the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima in Abuja on Thursday.

The committee comprises the Nigerian Governors Forum Chairman, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Governor of Anambra State,Chukwuma Soludo; Chairman of Progressives Governors Forum, Hope Uzodinma of Imo State; PDP Governors Forum Chairman, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti.

Vice President said the committee will liaise with the leadership of labour unions in the country to find a way forward on the emerging issues in the interest of the nation.

Council also received progress reports on the ongoing nationwide distribution of rice, grains, fertilizer, other items to States and N5 billion financial support, provided by the Federal Government and commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for their interventions.

Council then noted various interventions by State governments and urged them to upscale the distribution of palliatives towards alleviating the suffering of citizens especially the vulnerable groups.

NEC also mourned the death of some military personnel in Niger State and observed a minute silence in honour of deceased, while commiserating with their families.

Below are other highlights of the meeting:

Excess Crude Account from 19th July to 14th August, 2023, $473,754.57

Stabilisation Account from 18th July to 14th August, N30,346,557,405.12

Natural Resources Account from 18th July to 14th August 2023, N115,175,616,159.65

PRESENTATION OF PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF IMPACT OF FLOOD DISASTER ACROSS THE STATES IN NIGERIA BY GOVERNOR OF KOGI STATE

The Governor at the 128th NEC Meeting held on 20th October, 2022, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum and Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, drew attention of Council to the devastating effect of the 2022 flooding which affected about 31 States of the Federation that had resulted in the loss of over 600 lives, displacement of millions of people, destruction of hundreds of thousands of houses and submersion of thousands of hectares of farmlands and appealed for urgent intervention from the Federal Government to address the impact of the menace on the people and infrastructure.

Consequently, Council resolved to setup a 5-man Ad-hoc Committee on flooding comprising of Governors of Jigawa, Kogi, Anambra, Bayelsa, Lagos and Yobe State. The following were also coopted into the Committee:

Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning

Honourable Minister of Water Resources

Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management

Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria

Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)

The Terms of Reference of the Committee was to “Review the current flooding situation in the country and design a template for compensation of victims”.

The Committee had its inaugural meeting on Thursday 10th November 2022 at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Secretariat. Highlight of the Meeting were as follows:

The Committee acknowledged the urgency of the assignment and hence the need to expedite action in order to table a draft report at the next NEC Meeting.

A sub-committee was constituted to propose modalities to address imminent food crisis due to the flooding and possible source of funding for palliatives to victims. The Sub-committee was to be Chaired by the Executive Governor of Kebbi State and the following as Members: Ministries of Agriculture, Humanitarian, Finance, NEMA and CBN.

NEC Secretariat to develop and forward a Template with accompanying letter to all the affected States to collect data on Preliminary Assessment of the impact of the flood in the affected Communities, harmonize the data and produce report of their findings to the Committee.

LIMITATIONS

The exercise would have been more successful and effective if all the affected States had responded as and when due and according to provisions made in the template. Some of the limitations include the following:
Delay or Non-submission of filled template by some States. Only 16 out of the total number of affected States forwarded their submissions to NEC Secretariat to date as expected. About 15 others were yet to do so. The submission from defaulting States are awaited to update the database.

Some of the States that submitted did not fully complied with requisitions of the template thereby making some of their submissions difficult to process by the automated system. There is the need for compliance with laid down processes to allow for higher degree of uniformity especially considering the huge volume of data involved.

Only few States reached out to the Council Secretariat’s Technical Team for possible guidance and assistance in the exercise. States are encouraged to take advantage of the Secretariat’s personnel to address important concerns where necessary.

Only few States indicated financial implication for the damages caused thereby making it difficult to proposed a required amount of intervention.

Some submissions were not done according to the template which makes difficult to ascertain the financial implications of such states.

RECOMMENDATIONS
The plight of victims of the unfortunate flood disaster across affected States of the Federation could be alleviated if the much needed intervention from the Federal Government materialized without further delay.

There is therefore the need to expedite release of fund to affected States as recommended by designated Committees constituted by the Federal Government to that effect. This would go a long way in addressing the needs of the victims as well as offset debt incurred by some States to assist their citizens.
COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS

NEC Secretariat and officials of the Office of the Vice President to visit the affected states for on-the-spot assessment of the situation on ground. The exercise will authenticate the date submitted by state to determine needed intervention.

That Federal Government’s immediate intervention to be expeditiously carried out by NEMA, Ecological Fund Office and other relevant agencies. States to assure maximum cooperaton.

NEC resolves that all hands should be on deck to assure appropriate submission and data presentation. The quality of data collected should be enhanced to meet international standard. That the challenges of flooding deserves concerted and collective effort.

There is need to strengthen NEMA as a structure and sustainable adaptation measures for the citizens. In mobilizing resources to tem the tide of flooding, there is need to look beyond NEMA.

NEC Secretariat to come up with recommedations on the roadmap towards addressing the flood situtation.

PRESENTATION ON EXPLORING A NEC AGENDA FOR MACROECONOMICS STABILITY & SHARED PROSPERITY BY DG NESG

The Presentation was to inform the council on achieving low Inflation and stimulation Growth and Macroeconomic Objectives.

MACROECONOMIC STABILITY OBJECTIVES:

  • High and stable economy
  • Low Inflation Growth Price level
  • unemployment Account
  • Favourable Current low balance and stable exchange rate account balance

CURRENT MACROECONOMIC LANDSCAPE

  • Investment inflows have dwindled since 2019, likewise the country’s investment/GDP ratio; Crude Oil exports and refined petroleum products imports dominate Nigeria’s trade structure.
  • Nigeria’s Naira position against major trading currencies deteriorated
  • Weak FX supply and heightened demand for imports remains core drivers of exchange rate instability; market volatility persists despite recent FX alignment, driven by pressure on FX demand that widens the gap between official and parallel market rates due to inadequate supply and speculative tendencies; external reserves remain under pressure as external reserves fell by 8.3 percent from 37.1 billion in January 2023 to 33.9 billion in July 2023.
    KEY CONSIDERATION FOR IMPROVING THE OUTCOMES OF FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL
  • Inflationary impact: Fuel subsidy removal will increase inflation. So, there is a need for robust social programmes.
  • Efficiency in government spending: There has been a lack of clarity on how the government spends subsidy savings. This issue must be addressed.
  • Investment in the downstream and midstream segments of the industry: Achieving this will reduce huge dependence on petrol imports and strike out the need to pay subsidies on fuel.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

The NEC must insist on pushing a national legislative reform agenda for national competitiveness. It is essential that nigeria resolves the legislative binding constraints to our national competitiveness, the nesg through nassber, our partnership with national assembly and nigerian bar association has identified over 115 legislations that hinder growth, in the last few years, 10 legislations have been passed (including the cama 2020 and the pia 2021.

COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS:

  • Council commended NESG for its presentation especially on pragmatic roadmaps for tackling current economic challenges.
  • It was noted that the recommendations contained in the NESG’s roadmap needs to be reviewed to align with existing economic agenda at the national and sub-national levels for pragmatic purposes.

SUBSIDY REMOVAL: NEC SETS UP AD-HOC COMMITTEE TO LIAISE WITH LABOUR UNION LEADERSHIP

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International

Venezuela Solidarity Group Urges U.S. to Lift Sanctions After Deadly Earthquakes

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July 5, 2026

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Venezuela Solidarity Group Urges U.S. to Lift Sanctions After Deadly Earthquakes

By: Michael Mike

The Venezuela Solidarity Campaign in Nigeria (VSCN) has called for the immediate and unconditional lifting of United States sanctions on Venezuela, arguing that the restrictions are hampering humanitarian relief and reconstruction efforts following devastating twin earthquakes that reportedly killed more than 2,000 people and displaced over 50,000 others.

In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its coordinator, Comrade Dimeji Macaulay, the group expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people and the Bolivarian Government, describing the earthquakes as a humanitarian tragedy that has left widespread destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, roads and other critical infrastructure.

The organisation extended condolences to families of the victims and praised what it described as the resilience of the Venezuelan people in confronting the disaster despite years of economic hardship.

According to the VSCN, the U.S. sanctions have weakened Venezuela’s capacity to respond effectively to the emergency by limiting access to financial resources and restricting the importation of medicines, equipment, technology and other essential materials.

The group maintained that maintaining the sanctions during a humanitarian crisis amounts to collective punishment against ordinary citizens and called for their permanent removal to facilitate relief operations and long-term reconstruction.

“There can be no moral or legal justification for maintaining an economic blockade against a country struggling to save lives and rebuild after a devastating natural disaster,” the statement said, adding that every day the sanctions remain in force prolongs the suffering of the Venezuelan people.

The campaign also urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to publicly support the removal of the sanctions, strengthen diplomatic relations with Venezuela and contribute to international humanitarian efforts for victims of the disaster.

It further appealed to the African Union to reject unilateral coercive measures, describing them as violations of international law, while calling on African countries to support Venezuela’s recovery.

The group equally called on the United Nations to intensify humanitarian assistance and ensure that sanctions do not obstruct emergency relief operations or reconstruction programmes.

Beyond governments and international organisations, the VSCN appealed to trade unions, youth organisations, civil society groups and progressive political movements across Africa and the wider international community to demonstrate solidarity with Venezuela by opposing what it described as economic warfare and supporting the country’s right to determine its future without external interference.

Reaffirming its commitment to the Venezuelan cause, the organisation said it would continue campaigning until the sanctions are lifted, insisting that Venezuela’s recovery should not be hindered by external political considerations

Venezuela Solidarity Group Urges U.S. to Lift Sanctions After Deadly Earthquakes

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Nigeria Condemns Killing of Two Citizens in South Africa, Warns All Options Remain Open

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3 hours ago

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July 5, 2026

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Nigeria Condemns Killing of Two Citizens in South Africa, Warns All Options Remain Open

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government has strongly condemned the killing of two Nigerian nationals in South Africa, accusing security operatives and criminal elements of targeting Nigerians amid rising xenophobic violence, and warning that it may be forced to activate “all options” if the attacks continue.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the government demanded immediate investigations into the killings and the prosecution of those responsible, while expressing concern over what it described as an alarming pattern of extra-judicial killings and growing hostility towards Nigerians living in South Africa.

According to the ministry, one of the victims, Emeka Charles Iroegbu, was allegedly killed on June 28 in Sunnyside, Pretoria, by officers of the Tshwane Metro Police, who reportedly subjected him to what the government described as “gruesome interrogation techniques.”

The ministry said the same police officers were also allegedly responsible for the extra-judicial killing of another Nigerian, Nnaemeka Mathew Andrew Ekpenyong, on April 20, noting that despite the identities of the four officers being known to the South African Police Service, no arrests had been made.

It added that another Nigerian, Musa Yunana Joe, popularly known as “Big Joe,” was also shot dead in front of his shop on June 28 in Witbank, Mpumalanga, by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

The government said the incidents occurred against the backdrop of increasing attacks on foreigners in South Africa, raising serious concerns about the safety of Nigerians and other foreign nationals.

It alleged that some individuals were deliberately portraying hardworking Nigerians as criminals in order to justify attacks against them.

“The continuing pattern of such terrible incidents is clearly evidence of complicity on the part of security operatives, especially officers of the Tshwane Metro Police, which raises the question of state responsibility under international law,” the statement said.

Nigeria also condemned recent comments reportedly made by a spokesperson of the South African Government, who allegedly asked Nigerians leaving South Africa because of ongoing xenophobic protests to disclose where illegal drugs were hidden.

The Ministry described the remarks as derogatory, unprofessional and capable of inciting hatred and violence against Nigerians.

It further criticised anti-immigrant groups, including March on March and Operation Dudula, accusing them of promoting violence and hate against fellow Africans and warning that their leaders could face regional and international criminal liability.

The Federal Government stressed that allegations of wrongdoing against any individual should be handled through lawful judicial processes rather than mob action or extra-judicial killings.

It called on South African authorities to urgently investigate the recent killings alongside other unresolved cases involving Nigerian victims and ensure that those responsible are prosecuted.

The government expressed sympathy to the families of the deceased and pledged to continue engaging South African authorities at the highest diplomatic level until justice is achieved.

It also advised Nigerians living in South Africa to remain calm, obey the law, stay vigilant, relocate to safer neighbourhoods where necessary, and avoid areas experiencing violent demonstrations while diplomatic efforts continue.

The ministry noted that numerous South African citizens and businesses operate freely and safely in Nigeria without harassment, arguing that South Africa has a reciprocal obligation to guarantee the safety of Nigerians legally residing in the country.

It warned that the continued targeting of Nigerians was unacceptable and stated that if the situation persisted, “all options remain on the table,” adding that some measures could be activated should what it described as “intolerance and apartheid-style behaviour” against foreigners continue.

The government, however, appealed to Nigerians at home to remain peaceful and refrain from retaliatory actions, reaffirming its commitment to dialogue and diplomacy in line with Nigeria’s foreign policy of African unity, brotherhood and solidarity.

The Ministry also disclosed that the evacuation of registered Nigerians from South Africa is ongoing.

Nigeria Condemns Killing of Two Citizens in South Africa, Warns All Options Remain Open

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Six Villagers Killed as Terrorists Attack Sokoto Community, Rustle Livestock

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4 hours ago

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July 5, 2026

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Six Villagers Killed as Terrorists Attack Sokoto Community, Rustle Livestock

By: Zagazola Makama

Suspected terrorists have killed six villagers and rustled an unspecified number of livestock during an attack on Koludo Village in Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that combined troops of the 8 Division Strike Team, 18 Field Engineer Regiment, 28 Support Engineer Regiment, and the Nigeria Police responded to a distress call following the attack at about 7:10 a.m. on Friday.

The sources said that upon arrival at the village, the security team confirmed that the attackers had invaded the community, killed six residents, and made away with livestock before fleeing.

The troops immediately launched a pursuit of the fleeing terrorists along their withdrawal routes but were forced to halt the operation after the suspects escaped into marshy terrain, which hindered further movement.

Security forces have maintained vigilance in the area while efforts are ongoing to track down the perpetrators and prevent further attacks.

Six Villagers Killed as Terrorists Attack Sokoto Community, Rustle Livestock

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