The security challenge posed to the nation by the extremist Boko Haram sect will take centre stage at Wednesday meeting of the Executive Council of the Federation as President Goodluck Jonathan and the ministers deliberate on a White Paper on the report of the Presidential Committee on the Security Challenges in the North East Zone of Nigeria.  

The committee was inaugurated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, on August 21 to review the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Security challenges in the zone with the Minister of Interior Mr Abba Moro as chairman. 

President Jonathan will personally bring the memo on the White Paper to the meeting.

Also to be discussed is a Draft White Paper on the Sheikh Ahmed Lemu Panel report on the 2011 Election Violence and Civil Disturbances whose memo will also be brought by the president.

The 22-man panel submitted its report in October citing statements made by Muhammed Buhari, the candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), as one of the causes of the violence. The panel, set up in May 2011, also identified citizens’ unfulfilled desire for change in the political landscape of the country as a determining factor in the violence that erupted in sections of the country shortly after the election results were announced.

Some ministers are also expected to submit memos in line with issues in their respective ministries. Hadiza Mailafa and Onyebuchi Chukwu, the ministers of Environment and Health respectively, are expected to present a memo on the establishment of a National Healthcare Waste Management Policy for Nigeria.

Bala Muhammed, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, will canvas for a contract for the establishment of plant nursery, tree planting, landscaping and beautification of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Expressway (Airport Road), Abuja.

The ministers for Science and Technology, Labour, and Sports will also be presenting memos for various needs in their ministries.