…tasks AGF, Environment Minister on amendment
Stephen Angbulu, Abuja
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Friday, in Abuja, approved a work plan for the National Council on Climate Change.
This comes five months after he assented to the bill setting up the National Council on Climate Change, followed by the Director-General’s appointment and subsequent inauguration of the Council on September 28, 2022.
He, again, directed the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, to amend Nigeria’s Climate Change Act 2021 and “report back to Council.”
When Buhari first gave a similar directive in September 2022, he argued that the regulation contained lapses – including the considerable cost and bureaucracy created by establishing states and Zonal offices.
According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari made the approvals at the inaugural meeting of the Council, which he chaired, with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as Vice Chairman and the Director-General of NCCC, Dr Salisu Dahiru, as Secretary, among other members.
The statement is titled ‘President Buhari approves work plan for national council on climate change.’
At the meeting, which took place at the Presidential Villa, Buhari recalled that he had assented to the Bill setting up the NCCC, which was followed by the appointment of the Director-General and subsequent inauguration of the Council on September 28, 2022.
He said, “Today, with this inaugural meeting, and in line with the objectives of the Act, also in tandem with my commitments both in Glasgow COP-26 in 2021 and Sharm el-Sheikh COP-27 in 2022, we are stepping up commitments by considering the consolidated memorandum presented by the Director-General.
“Accordingly, I have examined the requests by the Director-General and have agreed to the general terms of the intent of the memorandum on the need to operationalise the Council.”
Buhari said he had given directives for the amendment of the Act establishing the NCCC to include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Federal Ministry of Science & Technology and Innovation as members of the Council, also to reduce the number of offices across 36 States of the Federation to avoid bureaucracy, and ensure a smooth and faster process in achieving the purpose of the Organisation.
He said the Act takes out the State Commissioners of Environment as members of the Council or their representatives saying, “There is no transitional provision capturing the work of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Energy Transition.”
“Furthermore, there is provision for establishing an Executive Management Structure at the Secretariat to support the Director-General in running the Council Secretariat etc.
“I however note the update earlier presented by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation on the amendment efforts and hereby direct the Attorney General to liaise with the Honourable Minister of Environment to proceed on the amendment processes and report back to Council,” Buhari added.
The president also endorsed the Council as the Designated National Authority for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the DG, NCCC, as the UNFCCC National Focal Point, in line with the Climate Change Act 2021.
He approved the deployment of staff from crucial Ministries, Department and Agencies to the Council to ensure its effective take-off.
Buhari then okayed the operationalisation of the office space to provide an environment conducive to working for the Council and the development of the Open Market Carbon Trading Framework and Infrastructure (Phase I) in collaboration with M/S Rosehill Group Limited.
The president urged the management team to work diligently toward finalising the National Climate Action Plan.
He noted that the plan would provide a sustainable framework for all climate-related activities in Nigeria and the surest tool for engagement with the global community.
The Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, said with the president’s support Nigeria is set to lead climate change issues, biodiversity, wildlife conservation and energy transition plan implementation in Africa.
He thanked Buhari for his strong leadership of the Pan Africa Agency of the Great Green Wall, the Sahel and Sahara Initiative, the Climate Commission of the Sahel Region and the Lake Chad Basin Development Authority.
Dahiru, the Director-General of the Council, said they had discussions with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria Ltd, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, and other relevant partners to ensure success.
