27th August, 2021
All 28 States that established Judicial Panels following the EndSARS protests last year have now completed the assignment, except Lagos State’s panel which will conclude later this year in October.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, made the disclosure on Thursday at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting.
He added that 8 States have turned in their reports and Council looks forward to discussing them in full at its next meeting as more States are expected to make their submissions as well.
This was among resolutions reached at the end of the Council’s 119th meeting (8th in 2021), held virtually and presided over by the Vice President, with State governors, federal ministers, and other senior government officials in attendance.
Speaking on the consideration of the panel reports, Prof. Osinbajo said already the 8 States: Abia, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ondo, and Rivers, have submitted reports of their respective panels, while Lagos State has also submitted an interim report.
At the meeting, Mrs. Maryam Uwais, Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment, also made a presentation to NEC on At-Risk Children (& Youth) Programme.
The memo was to acquaint the council with the mission of the program.
She said the program was to ensure the integration of at-risk children and young adults by creating opportunities for skills and empowerment to reduce their vulnerabilities.
The council also received a memo from Prof. Mohammed Haruna, the Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
Following President Muhamadu Buhari’s approval of the implementation of remittance of one percent of the federation account as contained in the establishment Act as NASENI Statutory fund, NEC also endorsed.
The council also received the Progress Report of the NEC Adhoc Committee Interfacing with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, on behalf of Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, informed the council about the new vaccination drive which moved on further to seven states by Aug. 25.
“By the end of Sept., Federal Government will get a reasonable amount of vaccine doses.
“The adhoc committee interfacing with the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 is to work hand in hand with the staff of National Primary Health Care in administering the vaccine.
“In Lagos, the number of Covid-19 cases rose last week; as at yesterday positivity rate rose from 10 to 10 .5 percent.
“ States should ensure that mandatory isolation is observed; there is an increase in the usage of oxygen,’’ Sanwo-Olu said.
He said that the Delta variant had remained the dominant variant in the country recently and was present in eight states.