The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the draft national policy on welding designed to equip small and medium-scale industries with the necessary skills. 

“There is also the memo from the Minister of Science and Technology for the approval of the Draft National Policy on Welding,” stated information minister Lai Mohammed. “This is again to ensure that small and medium-scale industries get (the) necessary skilled labour. As it is today, most of our welders come from the neighbouring countries, and that is the national policy to bridge that gap.’’

The information minister told journalists that the federal government also approved the procurement of vehicles for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

The contract was awarded to Innoson Manufacturing Company, costing N660.4 million, involving 20 pick-up vehicles and one City Bus.

Mr Mohammed said the communications and digital economy minister, Isa Pantami, presented a memo approved for providing broadband infrastructure for micro-small medium enterprises and tertiary institutions in the country.

“That contract was awarded to various companies for N16.7 million,” the minister said.

Mr Mohammed also disclosed that the council approved the supply, installation and upgrading of new IT communications equipment and furniture for emergency communication centres across the country at the cost of N668 million.

He further stated that the government ratified the International Labour Organisation Migrant Workers Supplementary Provision with Nigeria ratifying the 1975 Convention.

Mr Mohammed said the works and housing minister presented a memo seeking the approval of the revised estimated total cost of the contract for the construction of Patigi-Ada Road in Kwara, pointing out that the contract was for augmentation to the N1.192 billion, which would jerk the original contract from N4.3 billion to N5.5 billion.

(NAN)