NEC Asks  #EndSARS Organisers To Reconsider Planned Protest

16 Oct NEC Asks  #EndSARS Organisers To Reconsider Planned Protest

At its meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday, the National Economic Council (NEC) urged those planning protests to mark the anniversary of the #EndSARS to reconsider the option in view of “current security situation across the country.”

Having received reports from judicial panels regarding protests set up in 28 states across the country and in the FCT, the Council (NEC) approved the commencement of payment of compensation to victims in collaboration with the federal government; and the prosecution of persons indicted by the panels.

NEC called on security agencies to ensure that persons recruited into arms-bearing security agencies undergo psychiatric evaluations and drug tests before enlistment and periodically after enlistment to ensure that the personnel are psychologically fit to carry live weapons and to identify behavioural tendencies that may require psycho-social interventions.

The council also urged the federal government to give priority to the general welfare of police officers and personnel of other security agencies.

Away from security matters, the Council received a presentation and memo on the draft of the development plan from the ministry of finance, budget, and national planning. With the plan to succeed the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan 2017-2020, the federal government seeks to create 21 million jobs and lift 35 million people out of poverty in its new National Development Plan (2021-2025).

According to a statement by Laolu Akande, spokesperson to Vice-President Osinbajo, “the plan also targets an average of 5 percent GDP growth, the creation of 21 million jobs, and lifting 35million people out of poverty within the duration of the Plan,”

Akande listed policy actions for the plan to include prioritisation and implementation of critical and strategic infrastructure projects that will directly boost production and productivity.

Others include “institutional reforms in public sector, law enforcement, judiciary, and secure property rights, including intellectual property; “Measures to diversify revenue and increase tax to GDP ratio by improving tax administration, including the informal sector, and widening the tax base.”