NEC Directs Govs To Set Up State-based Judicial Panels For SARS, Supervise New Police SWAT

• Creates Special Fund To Compensate Victims Of Police Brutality

The National Economic Council, NEC, has directed immediate establishment of State-based Judicial Panels of Inquiry across the country to receive and investigate complaints of Police brutality or related extra judicial killings with a view to delivering justice for all victims of the dissolved SARS and other police units.

The Council specifically resolved that State Governors and the FCT Minister should take charge of interface and contact with the protesters in their respective domains.

The panels have six months to complete the assignments.

BIGPEN recalls a presidential panel on the reform of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS) had on Tuesday accepted the five-point demand of the #EndSARS protesters, Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, said in a press statement.

Over the past few days, there have been renewed calls for the scrapping of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS) of the Nigeria police force over reports of brutality and extrajudicial killings.

Following the protests, Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police (IGP), had disbanded the SARS unit after which President Muhammadu Buhari had also issued a directive, calling for a reform of the police force.

However, the protests have continued, with activists issuing a five-point demand which include release of all persons arrested and justice for victims of police brutality among others.

Rising from its monthly meeting, the council, which is chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, also directed that special funds be set aside for victims’ compensation.

A statement by Laolu Akande, the Vice President’s spokesman, said that the Council specifically resolved that State Governors and the FCT Minister should take charge of interface and contact with the protesters in their respective domains.

The statement said: “At the meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, and attended by State Governors, the Judicial Panels which would be set up in all the States would include representatives of Youths, Students, Civil Society Organizations and would be chaired by a respected retired State High Court Judge.

The Council also directed that State Governors should immediately establish a State-based Special Security and Human Rights Committee to be chaired by the Governors in their States, to supervise the newly formed police tactical units and all other security agencies located in the State.

The idea of the Special Security and Human Rights Committee in all States of the Federation and the FCT is to ensure that police formations and other security agencies in the State consistently protect the Human Rights of citizens.

Members of the Special Committee would also include Representatives of Youths, and Civil Society. The head of Police tactical units in each of the States would also be a member of the Committee.

Regarding the Judicial Panel of Inquiry, each State Government is to set up the Panel, chaired by a retired High Court Judge, with other members selected by the State Governor as follows:

*Two representatives of Civil Society groups

*One Retired Police Officer of high repute

*One Youth Representative

*One Student Representative

*One Representative of the State Attorney-General and a representative from the National Human Rights Commission.

The terms of reference for the Judicial Panel is to –

*receive and investigate complaints of Police brutality or related extra judicial killings;

*evaluate evidence presented/other surrounding circumstances, and draw conclusions as to the validity of the complaints; and

*recommend compensation and other remedial measures, where appropriate.

The Panel’s assignment should be concluded within a maximum of six (6) months, unless it shows convincing reasons why the State Governor should allow an extension.

There would also be Human Rights Public Complaints Team of between 2 to 3 persons to receive complaints on an ongoing basis. That team would be established by the Special Committee on Security and Human Rights.

It was resolved that each State Government shall also set up such a Complaints Office to which members of the public can relate by telephone or social media channels.

It shall be the duty of the officers of the Complaints Office to liaise with the leadership of security agencies, attempt resolution of complaints or otherwise guide the complainants.

NEC directed all State Governors to immediately establish a Victims Fund to enable the payment of monetary compensation to deserving victims.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF TODAY’S NEC MEETING

Council also received update on Nigeria’s COVID-19 response efforts from the Director General of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu.

According to the report, States performance in testing in the last month showed that States testing in September compared to August recorded decline in 18 States and improved testing in 19 others.

The NCDC DG also listed priority intervention areas as, strengthening States’ Health Security Architecture (Strong State Epidemiology team, Functional EOC, Functional Molecular Lab, Defined Treatment Centre, Response Vehicles, Communication equipment, Resources to deploy) and the establishment and sustenance of sample collection sites.

UPDATE ON ACCOUNT BALANCES

The Honourable Minister of State for Budget and National Planning reported to Council that the under listed accounts as at 14th October, 2020 are as follows:

Excess Crude Account -$72,409,346.76

Stabilization Account -N47,193,630,556.96

Development of Natural Resources Account -N154,330,148,020.34

PRESENTATION ON STRATEGY FOR GROWTH OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (MSMEs) AND JOB CREATION BY MINISTER OF INDUSTRY, TRADE AND INVESTMENT

Council received a presentation from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment titled Strategy for Growth of Micro, small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Job Creation.

• The objective of the presentation is to bring NEC up to speed on the Ministry’s Term Goals and Projects and seek NEC’s support in the resolution of key challenges to achieving our goals.
• The presentation noted that part of the mandate of FMITI is to accelerate the growth of the industrial sector and enhance productivity and boost the development of MSMEs as engine of economic growth, etc.

Council was invited to:

Establish land banks in each state earmarked for investment in agriculture and agro –processing;

Ensure fair compensation for land, standardize and ensure clarity in compensation rates in each state;

Adapt the 2015 approved list of taxes and levies;

Set up an investment promotion agency/one stop shop for investment-related issues including facilitating investment linkages

MSMEs Council should be set up in each State. These Councils should build a database of the resident MSMEs which can be used to facilitate the integration of local MSMEs into the supply chains of large resident corporate.

PRESENTATION ON THE 2021-2023 MEDIUM-TERM EXPENDITURE FRAMEWORK AND 2021 FGN BUDGET PROPOSAL BY THE HONORABLE MINISTER OF STATE FOR BUDGET & NATIONAL PLANNING

According to the presentation, disruptions in the macroeconomic environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitated Mr. President’s presentation of a revised 2020 budget on 28th May, 2020, which was signed into law on 10th July, 2020.

 The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the revised 2021-23 Medium Term Expenditure Framework & Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP), as well as the 2021 FGN Budget, on the 30th of September, 2020.

 In response to the developments affecting the supply of foreign exchange to the economy, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) adjusted the official exchange rate to N360/US$1, and more recently to N379/US$1.

 The projected aggregate revenue inflow into the Federation Account (Main Pool) is N6.77 trillion, while N1.70 trillion is the projected inflow in the VAT Pool Account.

 Out of the Main Pool Account, FGN is projected to get N3.54 trillion while States and Local Governments are projected to get N1.80 trillion and N1.39 trillion, respectively.

 From the VAT Pool Account, FGN is projected to get N255.46 billion while States and Local Governments are projected to get N851.52 billion and N596.07 billion, respectively.

CONCLUSION

 Several measures are being instituted to improve government revenue and entrench a regime of prudence with emphasis on achieving value for money. The goal of fiscal interventions will be to keep the economy active through carefully calibrated regulatory/policy measures designed to boost domestic value-addition, de-risk the enterprise environment, attract external investment and sources of funding, etc.”