The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a memo seeking to reduce the price medicines. The proposal raised by the coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, will comprehensively facilitate better pricing and availability of quality medicines especially for those for the treatment of diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases and other ailments that require constant use of medication. Addressing Journalists after the council meeting Professor Ali Pate said the prices of medicines, which skyrocketed as a result of naira devaluation, would be driven down by the new policy and also made to be more affordable.

Galaxy Television reports that the minidter explained that the policy which is known as MediPool will operate as a public-private partnership, leveraging the government’s significant purchasing power to negotiate better prices from suppliers. He said the platform will initially serve through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and eventually expand to federal tertiary hospitals.

FEC, also endorsed the proposal that will create two million jobs through the creative industry and generate N100 billion by the Ministry of Tourism. The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, said the Council had approved the bold new initiative to monetize Nigeria’s rich cultural and tourism assets. According to Musawa, the plan, developed in partnership with the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), is intended to create a new revenue stream while promoting national heritage. Another decision of the council was the review of the employment policy for the first time in six years, to create room for easy access to jobs by youths. Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi minister of Labour and Employment who also briefed journalists on the outcome of the meeting.

The minister said the new policy, reflects the evolving labour market and is intended to address persistent challenges of unemployment and underemployment- noting that the updated policy introduces fresh mechanisms to encourage productive employment and stimulate entrepreneurship across sectors. Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, also made known the decision on Life Assurance for Civil servants and public officers. Mrs. Walson-Jack, said the scheme, which covers the 2025/2026 policy year, is designed to provide financial succor to the families of deceased federal public servants, including top-ranking government officials.