Federal Govt Approves N15.3bn For Census ICT Digital Devices

Federal government has approved two contracts worth N15.3 billion for the supply and installation of information and communication technology (ICT) components as well as digital assistance devices for the 2023 population census.

The senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this to State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa .

He said: “Among those memos that were played today was the award of the contract for the supply and installation of information and communication technology (ICT) components for the 2023 population census. This is for the National Population Commission (NPC). It is meant for the census. The ICT component contract was awarded for about N10.9 billion.

“Another contract that was approved for the National Population Commission was the contract for the development and implementation of mobile device management solution for the personal digital assistance devices to be used for the 2023 population census.

This is in the sum of about N4.4 billion.”

Shehu said the council also approved a contract for the development of external infrastructure at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) new training academy at N3.3 billion.

He added that the sum of N1billion was equally approved for the contract for the procurement of 19 vehicles for the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

The presidential spokesman said council okayed N65 million for variation in the cost for the supply of airport fire crash tenders in the Ministry of Aviation.

Shehu said council approved policy on HIV/AIDS to protect people living with the disease and new regulations on the woodworking ecosystem.

According to him, “We don’t have the Minister of Labour and Employment today. But he got two approvals. One is pertaining to the woodworking ecosystem. Government has revised regulations pertaining to woodworking machinery and the entire ecosystem which dated back to 1959.

“New regulations have been put in place as empowered by the law. And by this approval, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will domicile and gazette these changes that have been approved.

“His other approval is on policy on HIV/AIDS. Basically, this is to guarantee personal human rights over people with HIV in work places so that they are not discriminated against and they are given equal rights. So, that is what it is about. They are not discriminated against and they are given all that is due to them. And they are respected, especially with regards to their personal and human rights.”