Buhari approves work plan for National Council on Climate Change

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a work plan for National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said in Abuja.

According to the statement, the President expressed the agreement at the inaugural meeting of the Council chaired by him, with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as Vice Chairman and Director General of NCCC, Salisu Dahiru, as Secretary, among other members.

He said the President also approved the deployment of staff from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to the council to ensure effectiveness.

Less than a month after Mr. Buhari announced the net-zero emission target of 2060 during the COP26 held in Glasgow (Scotland) in 2021, he signed into law the Climate Change Act, which established the Federal Government for a measurable action plan to mitigate climate change and adaptation.

This later led to the appointment of Mr. Dahiru as the pioneer DG and CEO of NCCC.

On August 24, 2022, Nigeria launched the Energy Transition Plan (ETP), a multipronged strategy developed to achieve net-zero emissions from the country’s energy consumption.

Major agreement

The statement stated that Mr. Buhari has responded to several requests made by the NCCC DG to ensure effective and efficient operation of the council.

Based on this, Mr. Adesina stated that Mr. Buhari approved the proposed Institutional Arrangement, (Organogram) for the Council, as presented.

According to the statement, the President also approved the operationalization of office space to provide a conducive working environment for the Council and the development of “Open Market Carbon Trading Framework and Infrastructure (Phase I)” in collaboration with M/S Rosehill Group Limited.

“At the meeting, the President approved that the Energy Transition Plan and Office be included in the NCCC to ensure the continuity and sustainability of these initiatives under the Climate Change Act 2021,” the statement said.

It confirms that the President also approved the Council as the Designated National Authority for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the DG NCCC, as the National Focal Point of the UNFCCC, in line with the Climate Change Act 2021.

Praising the management for its dedication to the task, the president urged the team to work hard to complete the National Climate Action Plan, the statement said.

Mr. Buhari said the plan would provide a sustainable framework for all climate-related activities in Nigeria and also provide the best tools for engagement with the global community.

“Today with this inaugural meeting, and in line with the objectives of the Act, as well as in line with my commitments at Glasgow COP-26 in 2021 and Sharm el Sheikh COP-27 in 2022, we increase our commitment by considering the joint memorandum provided by the Director General ,” said the President.

“Thus, I have reviewed the request of the Director General and have agreed to the general terms of the memorandum of intent on the need to operate the Council.

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“You will remember that during the inauguration of the Council in September 2022, I gave a directive to amend the Act that created the National Council on Climate Change, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Science & Technology and Innovation. as members of the Council, as well as to reduce the number of offices in the 36 States of the Federation to avoid bureaucracy, and ensure a smooth and faster process to achieve the objectives of the Organization.

The President further stated that there are provisions to establish an Executive Management Structure in the Secretariat to support the Director General of NCC in running the Secretariat of the Council among others.

“But I note the previous update given by the Attorney General of the Federation on the amendment effort and hereby direct the Attorney General to liaise with the Minister of Environment to continue the amendment process and report back to Council,” he said. said.

Commenting on the development, Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, said that with the support of the President, Nigeria will be a leader in climate change, biodiversity, wildlife conservation and the implementation of the energy transition plan in Africa in line with her commitments below. UNFCCC.

He appreciated the President for his strong leadership in the Pan Africa Agency of the Great Green Wall (PAGGW), the Sahel and Sahara Initiative, the Sahel Regional Climate Commission and the Lake Chad Basin Development Authority.

Efforts so far

According to the statement, Mr. Dahiru said since the inauguration of the 23-member Council by the president, the secretariat has developed a draft Institutional Arrangement (Organogram) for the Council, the proposed vision and mission of the Council, including the Council on the Council. APBN 2023. They have harmonized Nigeria’s response to climate change for COP27, he said.

He further stated that he has held discussions with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria Ltd (INFRACORP), Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), and other relevant partners to ensure success.

“The Council has developed a proposed institutional organogram that has the Director General as the Head/CEO of the Secretariat, and reports to the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, as the Chairman of the Council, and 6 (six) Directorates and different. Divisions for the effective implementation of its mandate, ” he said.