President Bola Tinubu has approved the terms of reference for the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action (SPEC) which he constituted recently.
The decision, our correspondent gathered on Sunday, was to bring clarity to the functions of the office within the climate and green economy ecosystem.
A statement by Segun Imohiosen, Director (Information) Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, noted that by the President’s directive, the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action shall lead negotiations on climate-related matters on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, reporting directly to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The team shall also supervise interface between the Secretariat of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) and the NCCC Supervising Council, which is chaired by the President.
The statement further noted that the team would have as its focal point Nigeria’s engagement with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings, and other related international meetings on climate-related and green economic matters.
The statement said, “The team shall be the coordinator of activities of all relevant Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies towards the successful fulfilment of Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
“The secretary of the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions, which is chaired by the President.
“The chief diplomat and lead representative of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on all climate-related engagements and negotiations while supervising the Energy Transition Office.
“The focal-point authority on all non-executive activities related to the operations of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) with delegated authority to oversee the activities and operations of the NCCC secretariat for frequent reporting to the President in between meetings of the NCCC Supervisory Council.
“The lead interface on engagements with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Power, Federal Ministry of Environment, other critical Federal Government of Nigeria institutions concerning the administration and coordination of climate-related donor finance, renewable energy finance and green industrial growth management.
“Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen.”
The SGF also noted that the President has approved the expansion of the membership of the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions (P-CAGE).
The committee comprises the following additional members: a representative, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, a representative, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a representative, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas) and a representative, Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science & Technology.
Others are a representative, NNPCL, Special Assistant to the President on Energy Transition, Ms. Yasmin Mohammed and a representative, Energy Transition Office, Mr. Somkele Awa-Kalu.
The statement added that the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions will be inaugurated in July
