NEC suspends deductions of budget support facility from states

The National Economic Council yesterday extended the suspension of Budget Support Facility deductions from states till April 2021.

The decision was taken at the NEC’s virtual meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The council, after receiving monthly financial updates from the Federal Government, reassured the governors that the suspended deduction “regarding the Budget Support Facility from the Federal Government would remain until April next year.

The deductions were suspended since April this year as a supportive measure to help States finances stabilize.

The council also urged Nigerians to remain alert and maintain the precautions necessary to prevent a complacent attitude in confronting the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

The meeting resolved that as long as people are still getting infected, Nigerians should maintain the use of non-pharmaceutical measures and precautions, so that the number of COVID-19 cases in the country are not heightened.

NEC also received a presentation from the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, on “Education in the New Normal.”

Nwajiuba stated that the new normal in education would require the use of distance learning programmes and open educational applications and platforms that schools and teachers could use to reach learners remotely and limit the disruption of education.

He stressed that the adoption of digital and technological infrastructures would support different forms of virtual learning necessary at this period.

The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, reported that as of September 15, 2020, the Excess Crude Account had $72, 408, 743.16; Stabilization Fund Account N43, 603, 048,431.80; and Natural Resources Development Fund Account N138, 770, 528, 353.88.