From Fred Ezeh and Abigail Anosike, Abuja
The Federal Government has expressed its readiness to promote transparency and accountability in the award and execution of contracts on the platform of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who revealed this at a workshop in Abuja yesterday, said that government aims to develop the capacity of monitoring and evaluation officers, preparatory to the implementation of the SDG projects, especially Stage 4, which focuses on education.
He said government would not tolerate any irregularities in the implementation of projects, while observing that lack of human capacity has been responsible for the weak monitoring system of previous programmes.
“Henceforth, all projects executed by the Ministry of Education, on the platform of SDGs, will be subject to rigorous monitoring at different stages to ensure strict compliance to standard,” he said.
Adamu, however, reminded the audience that the overview of the public expenditure in National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy had been an important component of the reform programme towards the achievement of the target of the SDGs.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, noted that SDGs constitute an integrated, indivisible set of global priorities for sustainable development.
TRANSPORT: FG inaugurates NIMASA, NPA governing boards
From Romanus Ugwu and Ruth Agada, Abuja
Determined to create a vibrant and sustainable economy, the Federal Government yesterday inaugurated the governing boards of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in Abuja.
Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, who performed the ceremony, charged members of both boards to key into the Federal Government’s restructuring and repositioning of various parastatals under the ministry.
The minister reminded them that their appointment was strictly guided by the Federal Circular of April 8, 2016, on revised frequency of meetings for part-time members of government committees, boards of federal agencies, statutory corporations and government-owned companies issued by National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, as a measure to reduce the cost of governance.
He said: “As a governing board, you are responsible for setting operational administrative policies, in accordance with government policy directives aimed at assisting the authority to achieve its mandate.”
Charging both boards to justify the confidence reposed in them, the minister specifically reminded the NIMASA board of its core mandates, urging the members “to promote the development of indigenous commercial shipping capacity in international and costal shipping trade and regulate/promote maritime safety, security, marine pollution and maritime labour.”
Responding, both chairmen of the boards, Emmanuel Olajide Adesoye and Major Gen. Jonathan India Garba, for NPA and NIMASA, respectively, assured the minister and the Federal Government of their readiness to ensure that the agencies were run in accordance with international best practices, as they would seek expert advice both within and outside the agencies.
FOREIGN: How to achieve SDGs, by Onyema
From Basil Obasi, Abuja
The Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, has said that the formation of broad coalitions around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was pivotal for achieving the goals
The minister, who made the suggestion during a preliminary stakeholder engagement in the implementation of SDGs in Africa, at the ongoing 71st United Nations General Assembly in New York, said that this coalition was necessary, given that the achievement of the SDGs is predicated on the combined efforts of sub-national, national, regional and global actors.
He explained that the implementation of the new UN agenda was happening in much tougher times than those which prevailed when the Millennium Development Goals were launched in 2000, which makes it imperative that all stakeholders appreciate the importance of their unique roles.
The minister said: “We must appreciate the fact that implementation of the SDGs is a pressing and pivotal task, which needs all hands to be on deck and accordingly stimulate a process that will ensure that we generate and share new ideas, knowledge, and technologies through multi-level engagement in the interest of our shared prosperity.”
He said although the target year of 2030 was 14 years away, the country must act as though “we have just a few years to implement the plan.”
Culture: Minister lauds Sunny Ade at 70
From Magnus Eze, Abuja
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has congratulated Nigerian music maestro, King Sunny Ade, on his 70th birthday, saying even age could not limit his superlative performance on stage.
The minister described Ade as a cultural icon and trail blazer, who, in partnership with other musical stars of his generation, charted the path for today’s generation of “Young Turks” in the industry through their immeasurable contributions to the growth of the nation’s music.
Mohammed, in a statement said, “it is particularly delightful that, in spite of his age, King Sunny Ade has remained active on the music scene, thus reinforcing his position as a cultural ambassador, who has done so much to project a positive image for the country over the years.”
The statement by Special Assistant to the minister, Mr. Segun Adeyemi, prayed that God would grant Ade many more years in good health for him to remain a source of inspiration to aspiring music artistes in particular and the entire Nigerian youth in general.
ENVIRONMENT: Climate change: Rep tasks MDAs on implementation of Paris agreement
From Kemi Yesufu, Abuja
Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Climate Change, Sam Onuigbo, has described the commitment of heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) as vital to the successful implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate in Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Paris Treaty on Climate on behalf of Nigeria during the 71st United Nations General Assembly. One hindered and ninety-five countries adopted the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal at the Paris Climate Conference (COP21) in December 2015. The agreement articulated a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change, by limiting global warming to well below 2°C.
The lawmaker, in a statement issued in New York, moments after President Buhari signed the Climate Change agreement, said implementation of the agreement must be approached with concerted efforts and zeal by all concerned.
He said: “The successful implementation of this agreement is of paramount importance to all of us as Nigerians, thus, we must approach its implementation as a shared responsibility by all arms of government, MDAs, private sector and all other stakeholders to enable us achieve the desired goals of a low carbon green economy.
“The leadership of the 8th National Assembly is united in their resolve to achieve a robust legislative framework on climate change governance in a record time.”
