36 1.8 Preparation of the NPoA 42. The preparation of the NPoA began with the two-phase nationwide validation of the CSAR and draft NPoA from 19 to 30 November 2007 in 14 centres covering the 36 states of the federation, and from 3 to 11 December 2007 in Abuja. These workshops culminated in a national dialogue on the CSAR and NPoA, which took place on 11 December 2007 under the chairpersonship of President Yar’Adua. The outcome of the aforementioned events was taken into account in the preparation of a four-year NPoA (2009–2012). 43. The contents of the draft NPoA were evaluated and costed in December 2007 by a joint committee of experts, with such experts being drawn from the nonstate stakeholder and state stakeholder groups. The committee was chaired by the national APRM director and comprised representatives of the following: • Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NES-G). • National Planning Commission. • National Assembly (Senate). • National Assembly (House of Representatives). • Ministry of Finance. • National Council of Women’s Societies. • Ministry of Foreign Affairs. • Ministry of Justice. • NBS. • Nigerian Labour Congress. • Centre for Budget Assessment and Accountability. • NEPAD Nigeria. 44. The committee discharged its assignment in two phases. Phase 1 focused on reviewing and updating the contents of the draft NPoA, whereas phase 2 was devoted to the evaluation and realistic costing of the NPoA activities. 45. The costed NPoA and the updated CSAR were endorsed by the NWG and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) (the highest decision-making organ of the executive arm of the federal government) on 28 December 2007 and 9 January 2008 respectively 1.9 The CRM 46. Nigeria submitted its final CSAR and draft NPoA to the APR Panel in January 2008. This paved the way for the fielding of the CRM from 3 February to 2 March 2008.