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Tag: Governors

  • Electoral violence: SERAP sues INEC over failure to probe governors, deputies

    Electoral violence: SERAP sues INEC over failure to probe governors, deputies

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over “the failure to investigate allegations of electoral violence and other electoral offences including bribery against some state governors and their deputies during the 2023 elections.”

     

    According to reports, the recently concluded presidential and national assembly elections and governorship elections in some states witnessed widespread reports of voter suppression, voter intimidation and the destruction or theft of election materials by political party agents and thugs across the six geopolitical zones.

     

    In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/583/2023 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja SERAP is asking the court for “an order of mandamus compelling INEC to seek the appointment of independent counsel to investigate allegations of electoral offences against state governors and their deputies during the 2023 elections.”

     

    SERAP is seeking “an order of mandamus compelling INEC to promptly, thoroughly and effectively investigate reports of electoral violence and other electoral offences committed during the elections, identify suspected perpetrators and their sponsors, and ensure their effective prosecution.”

     

    SERAP is also seeking “an order of mandamus directing and compelling INEC to prosecute all arrested electoral offenders in the 2023 general election in the custody of law enforcement and anticorruption agencies.”

     

    In the suit, SERAP is arguing that: “By allegedly engaging in electoral violence and other electoral offences in so blatant a fashion, suspected perpetrators and their sponsors have clearly acted in violation of constitutional provisions, international standards and the Electoral Act.”

     

    SERAP is arguing that, “identifying, arresting, investigating and prosecuting any politicians and their sponsors suspected to be responsible for electoral offences during the elections would end the impunity of perpetrators. It would also advance Nigerians’ right to freely participate in their own government.”

     

    SERAP is also arguing that, “Addressing the brazen impunity and reports of electoral violence and other electoral offences during the 2023 general elections would also send a strong message to politicians that they would be held to account for any infringement of the electoral process.”

    The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Andrew Nwankwo and Ms Blessing Ogwuche, read in part: “Election violence is a threat to fair and representative elections.”

     

    “Election violence is inconsistent and incompatible with the principles of democracy, the rule of law, transparency and accountability for politicians to allegedly use violence to disrupt the electoral process.”

     

    “Section 52 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act allows INEC to seek the appointment of an independent counsel to probe allegations of electoral violence and other electoral offences that may have been committed by any state governors and/or their deputies.”

     

    “When politicians and their sponsors decide to engage in electoral violence and other electoral offences rather than contest fairly for people’s votes, there are possibilities that such politicians will show a disregard for democratic rules and a disposition to adopt illegal means becomes inevitable.”

     

    “Ending impunity for electoral violence and other electoral offences would promote accountability of suspected perpetrators and their sponsors, ensure justice for victims, and ultimately advance the people’s right to vote as well as bolster voter confidence in the electoral process.”

     

    “Electoral violence and other electoral offences reportedly committed during the 2023 general elections are contrary to the express provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the Electoral Act and international standards.”

     

    “The Nigerian Constitution provides in Section 14(1)(c) that, ‘the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.’”

     

    “Sections 121 and 127 of the Electoral Act prohibit electoral bribery and undue influence before, during and after any election.”

     

    “Section 145(2) provides that, ‘a prosecution under this Act shall be undertaken by legal officers of INEC or any legal practitioner appointed by it.’ Under section 2(b), the commission ‘shall have power to promote knowledge of sound democratic election processes.’”

     

    “According to a report by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), several polling units recorded violence and/or fighting across the country.”

     

    “These violent incidents were often focused in political strongholds of opposition or perceived opponents which suggest that the use of BVAS – which limits overvoting when properly used – has resulted in a more concerted effort to stymie citizens casting their votes in opponent’s strongholds.”

     

    “Similar incidents of intimidation were reported in the six geo-political zones.”

     

    “In several states, political thugs, apparently with the support of law enforcement officials, disrupted and sent back voters intending to vote for opposition parties. Party agents were reported to be directing people who to vote for while those unwilling to do as directed were denied ballot papers and forced to leave the polling units.”

     

    “There were reports of destruction of used ballot papers and vandalization of entire polling units in some states. Violence was also used to target BVAS machines in order to disrupt the process and ensure the cancellation of results.”

     

    “According to the CDD, there are reports of vote trading in zones across the country, with both cash and goods used by all political parties in an effort to entice voters to cast their ballots at their direction. The CDD noted vote buying at polling units during the elections across the country.”

     

    No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

  • NEC to consult governors before subsidy removal

    NEC to consult governors before subsidy removal

    The National Economic Council (NEC) has agreed that the timing for the removal of oil subsidy should not be now but preparation work has to be done in consultation with the State Governments and other key stakeholders.

    Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed, stated this when she addressed State House correspondents on the outcome of the valedictory session of NEC.

    The meeting was presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.

    She said the council also agreed to form an expanded committee to look at the process for the removal of the fuel subsidy.

    According to the minister, this include determining the exact time and the measures that need to be taken to provide support to the poor and the vulnerable as well as ensure the availability of petroleum products across the country.

    ”Yes, What I said is that it is not going to be removed now – which means it will not be removed before the transition is completed.

    ”But then we’ve two laws that have inadvertently made the provision that we should exit by June.

    ”So if the committee’s work, which will include the representatives of the incoming administration, determined that the removal can be done by June than the work plan will be designed to exit as at June.

    ”But if the determination is that the period is extended it will mean that as a country, we will have to revisit the Appropriation Act for example, because the 2023 budget only made provision upto June.

    ”So if we’re extending beyond June it means we have to revisit the appropriation Act or amend the PIA.

    ”So these are the reasons why we had to do this consultation, we would like to get inputs from the governors, they’re going to provide us their representatives to work together with us to have a defined process that will take us towards the removal.

    ”But one thing that is clear is everybody agrees that the subsidy should be removed very quickly because the cost is only not inefficient but is also not sustainable, and that when the time comes for removal, the removal will be done once and for all.”

    Also speaking on the outcome of the meeting, Gov. Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa disclosed that the council took reports of the presidential committee on flooding.

    He said the committee was saddled with the responsibility of aggregating the causes of flooding, the losses incurred in the recent time and possible palliatives for victims.

    He disclosed that 16 states had so far submitted their reports on flooding while the remaining 20 were expected to do same before the overall reports of the presidential committee would be presented to the National Executive Council.

  • President Buhari speaks on the credibility of 2023 elections in the country

    President Muhammadu Buhari has finally spoken on the conduct and credibility of the just concluded 2023 general elections in the country.

    According to him, the fact that many governors sought to go to the Senate but failed is a pointer to the fact that the election was free, fair and credible, saying that there was no easy route to power.

    He described the Nigerian polity and democracy as growing and getting more sophisticated because Nigerian voters now realize that they have a say when it comes to the choice of their leaders.

    The Katsina-born politician made his position known while playing host to the newly-installed Emir of Dutse, Jigawa State Capital, Alhaji Muhammad Hamim Nuhu Sunusi at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.

    He said the stunning outcome of 10 Governors failing to make it to the Senate was a reflection that there is no longer a guaranteed route to power. Just as he noted that the voting population is truly the king when it comes to elections.

    On May 29th, 2023 president Buhari would have completed his tenure as Nigeria’s president and will retire to Daura in Katsina.

    His words, “It is a testament to the maturity of our democracy and to the amazing sophistication of the voter. What shocked me was that the ordinary citizen who is usually underrated has made the point of his political understanding of things.

    “Assumption is always that you are governor for eight years and you go to the Senate to crown the career. No one should underrate the Nigerian voter anymore. Politics will be more difficult, henceforth”.

    Recall that Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, his counterpart in Abia state Okezie Ikpeazu were two prominent governors that failed to get elected to the 10th senate.

  • Governors: Right versus wrong people – By Dakuku Peterside

    The Gubernatorial and state houses of assembly elections have come and gone in most states. Unfortunately in some states it was characterised by drama, unnecessary tension, flawed process, violence, and broad day light electoral robbery. The victors are celebrating, and the losers must be feeling bad. We all hope that this election, flawed as it may seem, will deepen our democracy and that we have elected leaders that will stir the ship of the various states in Nigeria to a glorious destination. Governors who will convert electoral mandate to results in socio-economic progress.

    The few weeks coming will see election petitions on account of an obviously flawed process. And the judiciary will play its role in deciding the fate of most governors. As sad as this may be, this has become an unpalatable aspect of our democratic process. A critical reason for the massive interest in the governorship election is the vital role governors play in our democracy and our federalism. The state level remains the closest to the people and governors are crucial development actors that are often forgotten in discussing development in Nigeria because undue  focus is on the federal government, and most people attribute progress or lack of it to the federal government.

    The combined total 2023 budget of the 36 states of Nigeria is over N11 trillion, which is more than 50% of the federal government’s 2023 budget of N21.83 trillion. This vast fund accruing to the states, if properly harnessed and managed, adds critically to the development of Nigeria.
    I argue at this point that just as in all federal systems, attention must divert from the centre and focus more on the constituent parts of the federation. It is at this local level that development is planned and executed. The federal government should play more of the role of a central facilitator and only get involved in the country’s strategic security, economic and social interests. It is appalling and an anathema that the federal government controls more funds than all the states combined, which has led to the states going cap in hands monthly to the federal government for monthly allocation. In most federal systems, the case is the opposite – the states fund the federal through a specified allocation process. It is also disheartening that some state governments cannot survive without total reliance on federal government projects and allocations. This is at the root of Nigeria’s lack of progress – having states that are liabilities to the nation because they are unproductive and not viable.

    It is utterly absurd that instead of elected governors to focus on making their states economically viable and developing their states from down to up, many governors have turned the states into fiefdoms and domains where they rule as absolute dictators controlling not just the resources of the state, but all the state institutions with impunity. We see governors who unashamedly use public funds as their private funds and use it anyhow they want, with little or no accountability whatsoever. The job of a governor requires that they be less wasteful, less grandiose in lifestyle and cost of governance.

    Nigerian state governors by our constitution have enormous powers and resource bases that, if properly deployed, can create an oasis of development. Some of the revenue accruing to some states in Nigeria compares to that of smaller African countries. To illustrate this, Lagos state’s 2023 budget of about $4b is higher than the 2023 budget of the Republic of Togo ($3.2b), almost equivalent to the Republic of Benin’s 2023 budget ($4,5b), and nearly half of Ghana’s 2023 budget of $11.7b. Other states have a similar revenue trajectory. How states manage their resources directly correlates with the state’s development level.

    A cursory look at past governors and their performance will highlight various governors’ good, bad, and ugly shades. I am incredibly grateful to some governors who, in the past four or eight years, were able to articulate their vision clearly, set right priorities, ran a disciplined and inclusive administration and they are only a
    handful. A few have grown the economy of their states, raised the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and made considerable strides in infrastructural, social, economic, and technological development of their states. That way, they succeeded in improving the standard of living of residents of their states. My basis for measuring the governor’s performance is devoid of propaganda and sheer theatrics that most governors exhibit to confuse their citizens about their performance. Building a few roads, flyovers, and community centres does not qualify as development, especially given the enormous resources accrued to the state.

    The assessment is based on Human Development Index (HDI). It measures each state’s social and economic development by focusing on the following three factors: critical education parameters; relevant health metrics; and standard of living assessed by gross national income (GNI) per capita. The average HDI for Nigeria in 2021 was 0.535 (the possible highest is 1), and this is lower than for countries like Angola (0.58) and Egypt (0.73). Lagos state and Ogun State ranked the highest, with 0.68 and 0.67 respectively. The governors of these states are doing their best to maintain this quality of living among their citizens.

    There are examples of bad governors who squandered the resources of their states. Spend a lot of resources on politics and political survival to the detriment of salaries, pensions and capital projects. Where there are capital projects, they tend to be for display and vanity projects. some of these governors are under investigation, and others are soon to be investigated when they leave office. In the past eight years, a south-south state had a cumulative revenue of over N4 trillion but has little or nothing to show for it. The quality of life of the people of the state is declining, and unless there is some drastic measures, all the advantages the state had in the HDI during the previous administrations will erode. Many Governors were not able to translate their mandate to any tangible results and it manifest in low HDI below national average. Most of these states unfortunately are in the northern part of the country . We appreciate the current level of insecurity in these areas and applaud any governor that did their best with the resources they have to improve the lives of their people and heavily criticise those that squandered their commonwealth.

    We have elected a new set of governors and re-elected a handful to serve another term. I believe the old governors would have learnt from their experience and the new governors will be ready to learn from the mis-steps of their predecessors. This is the time to set agenda for them and hold them accountable. This is the time to remind them to think beyond the exigencies of the moment and think “legacy”. Emeka Anyaoku in 2011 advised newly elected governors to be “harbingers of change” by investing in their peoples and pursuing socioeconomic policies to create employment for the youth, restore quality education, diversify the productive base of their economies and work for improved healthcare. The advise is still relevant till date. All governors should strive towards sustainable revenue inflow tied to economic productivity. As the CEO of the states, governors should map out ways of relying less on federal allocation by improving IGR through sustainable resource mobilization.

    Growth is possible through productive activities. Sound economic policies and good leadership will stir the states away from the financial crisis that often cripples some states, make them borrow funds for recurrent expenditure, and neglect critical Human development activities that will improve the people’s lives. New State Governors must realise they cannot focus on one development aspect and completely neglect the rest, which is counterintuitive and anti-productive. The governors must cover simultaneously and concurrently critical areas of development such as quality education, quality healthcare for all, good security, and job creation. We have passed the era of providing basic infrastructure (roads, flyovers, beautification of city centres) as the only development. Development must be holistic and improve people’s living standards, and anything short of this is unacceptable.

    I congratulate all the elected governors, irrespective of whether your election was flawed or not, and implore them to be courageous and determined to make an impact. The task ahead of developing Nigeria is enormous and calls for selfless leadership and sacrifice. I hope for healthy competition among the governors to outperform each other. They should learn from each other to do the right thing and shun all forms of greed and reckless impunity that have marred some governors. I advise them not to become little emperors and sabotage state institutions for their selfish interests. Each governor must set up a team of experts to determine the best strategy to harness the state’s tremendous economic, social, and political potential. There are no excuses this time for failure. Developing Nigeria is a task we must accomplish, and state governors are critical stakeholders and catalysts in shaping a new Nigeria. We have a young population that we must engage in for greater productivity. The consequences of allowing our youth to wallow unproductively are dire to consider. The governors must allow for checks and balances and make for a healthy function of legislature and judiciary in the state. They must create an enabling environment for growth and development and support the private sector to grow. The problem between the government and the private sector now is caused by the excessive taxation imposed on the private sector. I sincerely hope that the new set of governors will change the Nigerian narrative only if they are ready to face the task of making Nigeria great.

  • “We are investigating incitement by governors over naira scarcity” – IGP

    “We are investigating incitement by governors over naira scarcity” – IGP

    Police are investigating some governors and individuals whose utterances are considered to have incited riots over the naira redesign policy of the CBN.

    Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali, made this known in Abuja on Wednesday while fielding questions from State House correspondents.

    He was accompanied to the news conference by the Attorney-General of Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, at the end of Wednesday’s National Security Council meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Alkali said those found guilty would definitely be prosecuted.

    He maintained that the police were not in position to prosecute culpable governors because they enjoyed immunity.

    Govs. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun and Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, had openly condemned and denigrated the implementation of the naira swap policy.

    They asked people in their states to continue to spend the old N500 and N1000 as legal tenders.

    “We all know why the governors have not been cautioned. We are investigating. Whoever does anything can be investigated.

    “However, there are some people who have immunity. I think that is one of the reasons why they have not been cautioned.

    “The immunity will not stop us from cautioning them; from warning them; from advising them; and we are doing so,’’ he said.

    According to the IGP, the police have done what is required to calm the situation and stabilise the polity, assuring that there won’t be security issues on Election Day.

    Speaking on the outcome of the security meeting, Malami said the Council resolved that there was no going back on the Feb. 25 and March 11 elections.

    He said the conclusion was reached after security chiefs briefed the Council on their level of preparedness for the elections.

    He noted that INEC had also expressed its preparedness to conduct the elections.

    “The summary and conclusion of all submissions was to the effect that the system is wholeheartedly ready for the conduct of the elections.

    “Arising there from, the position of government and the position of the president are to the effect that the elections are holding on Feb 25 and on March 11.

    “Mr President and the National Security Council are happy with the preparations on ground and wholehearted arrangements are put in place in that direction,’’ Malami stressed.

  • APC National Chairman, state govs insist CBN should obey Supreme Court order on new notes

    APC National Chairman, state govs insist CBN should obey Supreme Court order on new notes

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the Attorney General of the Federation and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to respect the Supreme Court order of interim injunction on the Naira note re-design.

    Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, the APC National Chairman, said the appeal was part of resolution reached at an emergency meeting between the party’s governors and members of its National Working Committee (NWC) on Sunday in Abuja.

    Adamu, who spoke to newsmen at the end of the closed-door meeting, said the meeting also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in resolving issues caused by the new Naira note re-design and the cashless economy policy.

    The Supreme Court had in a ruling granted an interim injunction that the CBN and the federal government should suspend the implementation of the Feb.10 deadline for the expiration of the legal tender status of the old N200, N500, and N1000 notes.

    This, it said, should be pending until the hearing and determination of a suit before it slated for Feb. 22.

    Buhari had however on Thursday (Feb. 16), announced that only the old N200 note would remain valid until April 10, while the old N500 and N1000 notes had lost their legal tender status, contrary to the ruling of the apex court.

    “Without prejudice or whatsoever to the case that is lying at the Supreme Court at this point in time, that has to do with the issue of currency re-design.

    “We note very seriously that the programme and its implementation is causing tremendous difficulties to the people of Nigeria and to the national economy.

    “That we urge the Attorney General of the Federation and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to respect the Supreme Court order of interim injunction which is still subsisting.

    “That the meeting is urging his Excellency, President Buhari, to intervene in resolving issues that are causing this great difficulty to the economy,” Adamu said.

    He added that contrary to speculations, the party’s leadership and governors elected on its platform under the agies of Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) were on the same page on this matter.

    Also speaking, Gov. Abubakar Badaru of Kebbi and Chairman PGF,expressed satisfaction on the party’s ongoing presidential campaign across the country.

    Badaru said he was very proud about the conduct of party’s members and its presidential candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu, adding that the governors and the party’s leadership are working in unity to achieve electoral victory.

    “The Director-General of the campaign and indeed, governors and the party’s candidates across the country have been doing a tremendous job of mobilising the Nigerian populace.

    “And we are very impressed with the support of the majority of Nigerians,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that governors of Kaduna, Kogi, Jigawa, Yobe, Zamfara, Plateau, Ekiti, Niger, Kebbi, Gombe, Lagos and Nasarawa States as well as the deputy governors of Imo and Katsina States were present at the meeting.

    Tinubu also attended the meeting, which lasted for about three hours.

  • Just In: APC National Chairman, state govs in closed-door meeting

    Just In: APC National Chairman, state govs in closed-door meeting

    Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman is currently having a closed-door meeting with State Governors elected on the party’s platform.

    According to reports, before the meeting went into a closed doors, Adamu said it was to discuss recent developments in the country without blaming anyone.

    He expressed happiness with the number of governors at the meeting as more were being expected, saying that recent developments in the country necessitated the meeting.

    “We do not want to sit in judgment of anybody in regard to where we are today in the country as it affects our great party.

    “I thought the best thing to do is to get all those who are holding forth in their respective positions and who were elected on the platform of our party to get together and have some interaction.

    “So that we can have a better understanding of what situation we are in,” the APC national chairman said.

    As at the time of this report, governors of Kaduna, Kogi, Jigawa, Yobe, Zamfara, Plateau, Ekiti, Niger, Kebbi, Gombe and Nasarawa as well as Deputy Governors of Imo and Katsina were present at the meeting.

  • New Naira scarcity: Buhari to interrogate CBN, others

    New Naira scarcity: Buhari to interrogate CBN, others

    President Muhammadu Buhari says he will interrogate the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other government agencies involved in the printing and distribution of new Naira notes in the country.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity in a statement, said the president made this position known when he met with members of the  Progressive Governors’ Forum on Friday in Abuja.

    The Governors were in the presidential villa to share with the president the negative impact of the Central Bank’s policy.

    According to the governors, the currency re-design policy is undermining the painstaking efforts that have been put forth by this administration in transforming the economy.

    The president stated that when considering the policy, prior to its initial approval, he demanded an undertaking from the CBN that no new notes will be printed outside the country.

    Buhari disclosed that he received firm assurances that there was enough capacity, manpower and equipment for the domestic execution of this exercise.

    He, however, maintained that he would interrogate these assurances as part of his engagement with the responsible agencies of government.

    Buhari, therefore, urged the citizens to give him a seven-day window to resolve the currency crunch that had emanated from the implementation of the Central Bank policy to change high value Naira notes with the newly designed ones.

    According to him, the objective of the policy is not to create hardship, rather, its aim is to provide the economy with much needed revitalisation and the benefits will be borne in the medium to long term.

    ”Unfortunately, inefficiencies and underhanded practices being carried out on the part of our banks as the primary distribution medium, have destabilised the smooth and successful execution of the policy.

    ”Some banks are inefficient and only concerned about themselves.

    ”An extension of the time frame within which to complete this process will be made insignificant for as long as greed and selfishness continue to guide our actions,” he added.

    The president said he had received and seen televised reports about cash shortages and undue hardships that local businesses and the citizens were being subjected to.

    He, therefore, assured that the balance of the seven of the 10-day extension would be used to rectify whatever issues that posed a threat to the successful implementation of the currency swap policy.

    While continuing to monitor the situation, the president assured that he would be meeting with both the CBN and the Security and Minting Company and a decision would be taken based on current realities in the best interest of the people.

    The governors while briefing the president, reiterated their position which is in full support of the policy decision to redesign the currency.

    They said that they were convinced about the intent behind its thinking, but shared their concern regarding the current fallout which has a debilitating impact on their constituencies.

    They told the president that, as leaders within the party and the government in their various states, they were becoming anxious regarding the economic impact and the potential erosion to our democratic process, particularly the upcoming general elections.

    They, therefore, requested that the president should direct an adequate injection of the new notes and the continued utilisation of the old ones until the end of the year.

    The president thanked the Governors for bringing the cries of the people to him, given their proximity to them and assured that there would be a solution to the problem.

  • Governors set up committee to work with CBN on new notes

    Governors set up committee to work with CBN on new notes

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has set up a six-member committee to engage the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to address anomalies in the country’s monetary management and financial system.

    The forum disclosed this in a communique issued on Saturday at the end of its virtual meeting held with the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, on Thursday night.

    The committee, according to the communique signed by NGF Chairman, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, is chaired by Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo, with governors of Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Borno, Plateau and Jigawa states as members.

    The governors said that while they were not opposed to the objectives of the Naira redesign policy, the apex bank should consider the peculiarities of households and states, especially pertaining to financial inclusion and under-served locations.

    “We, the members of the NGF, received a briefing from the Governor of the CBN, Emefiele, on the Naira redesign, its economic and security implications including the new withdrawal policy.

    “Governors are not opposed to the objectives of the Naira redesign policy.

    “However, we observe that there are huge challenges that remain problematic to the Nigerian populace.

    “In the circumstances, governors expressed the need for the CBN to consider the peculiarities of states especially as they pertained to financial inclusion and under-served locations.”

    The governors resolved to work closely with the CBN leadership to ameliorate areas that required policy variation, particularly the poorest households, the vulnerable in society and several other Nigerians excluded.

    The governors also resolved to collaborate with the CBN and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) in advancing genuine objectives within the confines of the laws.

    They, however, insisted that the recent NFIU Advisory and Guidelines on cash transactions were simply outside the NFIU’s legal remit and mandate

  • Governors can’t excuse themselves on deepening poverty in Nigeria – VON DG

    Governors can’t excuse themselves on deepening poverty in Nigeria – VON DG

    Mr. Osita Okechukwu, the Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), says State Governors cannot excuse themselves from being a major contributor to deepening poverty and insecurity in Nigeria.

    Okechukwu said this in an exclusive interview with NAN in Abuja, while reacting to the position of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) that President Muhammadu Buhari should be blamed for the situation in the country.

    “Am not the spokesman for the Federal Government or President Muhammadu Buhari, however, as a Buharist, the truism is that the governors have no excuse in contributing to the material conditions which deepened poverty and insecurity in Nigeria.

    “They cannot exonerate themselves from the quagmire,” he said.

    Okechukwu added that the governors assumed the toga of Emperors and like Pontus Pilate cannot too late in the day, wash off their hands; whereas they collected the 47 per cent of State and Local Government Councils Revenue allocations, plus derivation and Bail Out funds.

    “This is without commensurate dividends on the ground,” he said.

    He said that the NGF should be reminded that all the federal roads, bridges, dams, primary health care, school feeding programmes, Anchor Borrowers Programme, etc were located at the 36 states of the country.

    He asked how can the NGF excuse itself when out of self interest it had emasculated local government councils, state judiciary, and legislatures.

    “Regrettably, the outcome is abject poverty and general insecurity.

    “By emasculating local councils funds, stopping independent funding of state judiciary and state legislatures, the NGF thereby compounded economic inequality and stimulated insecurity, for security is achieved via kinetic and civil strategic means,” he said.

    The NGF had through its Director of Media and Public Affairs, AbdulRazaque Bello-Barkindo, said “This dereliction of duty from the center is the main reason why people have been unable to engage in regular agrarian activity and commerce.

    Today, rural areas are insecured, markets are unsafe, travel surety is improbable and life for the common people generally is harsh and brutish.

    “The opinion, therefore, of one minister, based on a survey of 56,000 households in a country of 200 million people can never diminish the good work that 36 pro-poor-minded governors are doing for this country.”

    Okechukwu in debunking the generalisation of the Governor-Emperors, said that in an unholy bi-partisan alliance while breaching Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, which made democracy imperative in local councils administration; selectively adopted and mangled the Joint Account proviso of the same Constitution with less than public interest.

    “Hope the NGF did not forget the trillions Bail Out Buhari doled out to them for unpaid State salaries and pension’s arrears? Most of the Emperors were not prudent with the Bail Out Funds and the fall out is despair, despondency and insecurity at the grassroots.”

    “There is no doubt that the Governors-Emperors stymied democracy at the local councils, as none of the State Independent Electoral Commission ever conducted free, fair and transparent elections. The rigging of local councils elections and embracing of Joint Account proviso in the Constitution are the material conditions which enhanced corruption and insecurity at the grassroots.”

    Reminded that the NGF was not in charge of the Armed Forces and security apparatus of the state, Okechukwu said that security was multi-dimensional and required multi-dimensional approach.

    “But as I said before security is multi-dimensional and is fought via kinetic and none kinetic strategic means. In other words if as a governor you failed to provide minimal welfare and security, stop independence of State Judiciary and State Legislatures, pay minimum wage, salaries and pensions as and when due, you creating hunger and anger in the communities.

    “And a hungry man is an angry man. One must admit that we made some unforced errors; but the Governors-Emperors cannot excuse themselves from the sordid scenario we find ourselves.”