Ebun Francis || The National Economic Council, NEC, on Thursday set up a ten-member committee to find a solution to the nationwide farmers/herders clashes across the country.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is the head of the committee which includes nine governors.
Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, briefing newsmen at the end of the NEC meeting that the committee has governors of Zamfara, Kaduna, Adamawa, Benue, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Ebonyi and Oyo states as members.
According to the governor, “The committee has started its meeting right after this NEC meeting.”
The committee, he said, is expected to “ work in accordance with commensurate commitment to ensure that all perpetrators of violence are brought to book.”
Recent attacks and reprisal attacks between Fulani herdsmen and farmers by suspected farmers have led to the death of several persons in Benue, Adamawa and Taraba states.
Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi, while also speaking to newsmen at the end of the meeting, said the NEC considered an update on the need for domestic funding for the treatment of persons living with HIV in Nigeria.
According to Umahi, the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, and Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of Aids, NACA, Sani Aliyu, made presentations seeking increased funding for HIV services in Nigeria in order to achieve the goal of eliminating HIV/AIDS by the Year 2030.
The governor said the presentations stated that such an increase would reduce the dependency on donor funding for HIV services and the attendant development indicators.
Umahi said, “They also called for investment in HIV treatment that will lead to increased life expectancy in the country and a proportionate increase in GDP. They added that the need to invest in HIV/AIDS treatment is important because donor funding is on the decline because of economic circumstances.”
“The presentation asked NEC to consider and approve the resolution of the 59th Council on Health that at least between 2.5 per cent to 1 per cent of the monthly federal allocations to states be earmarked for financing the implementation of HIV/AIDS sustainability roadmap.
“Council was also asked to consider and approve the universal free antenatal services and abolition of user fees associated with the prevention of mother to child transmission services.
“Council was also asked to request that the state health insurance scheme including HIV is an indicator for both testing and treatment, particularly as related to community health insurance programme.
“Council noted and approved the recommendations above as requested,” he said.
The Ebonyi state governor equally noted that the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma, informed the council that the federal government is addressing Nigeria’s economic situation through the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, ERGP, covering between 2017 and 2020.