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  • BREAKING: Governors agree to pay better wages

    BREAKING: Governors agree to pay better wages

    Arising from a closed-door meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, Governors on the platform of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have agreed to pay better wages.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Governors held the closed-door meeting to discuss the proposed new national minimum wage, the issue of local government autonomy and other national issues.

    The NGF assured Nigerians, following the meeting, that better wages will result from ongoing negotiations between the government, private sector and organised labour.

    “The governors agreed to continue engaging with key stakeholders to reach a mutually agreeable solution. We remain dedicated to the process and assure that better wages will result from the ongoing negotiations,” a communique issued and signed by Chairman of the NGF and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, reads in part.

    The Governors also deliberated on other issues affecting the country, including the ongoing Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.

    See the full communique below:

    ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 7th MEETING OF THE NIGERIA  GOVERNORS’ FORUM HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 26th JUNE, 2024

    We, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at our meeting held today, deliberated on issues affecting the country.

    1. Members received the Acting Country Director of the World Bank, Mr. Taimur Samad, and his team to discuss the Bank’s various programmes currently being implemented in the States, including HOPE – Series of Projects: Nigeria Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equality, Food and Nutrition Security, NFWP-SU: Nigeria For Women Project Scale Up, NG-CARES: Nigeria Community Action (for) Resilience and Economic Stimulus Program, SABER: State Action on Business Enabling Reforms Program, SPIN: Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria Project. Members expressed willingness to continue to provide the much-needed support to ensure programme effectiveness across the country.

    2. Members received a briefing from Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy & Tax Reforms Committee. He highlighted the progress made regarding the ongoing Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms. He sought the input and support of their excellencies on a number of proposals which would directly impact the subnational level of government. Members pledged their support for the Committee to ensure the successful implementation of these reforms and to collaborate closely to address any challenges that may arise.

    3. The Forum received a presentation from the Honorable Minister of Women Affairs on the World Bank–Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up, along with other activities of the Ministry. Members noted the importance of the project and emphasized the need to implement it at the State level as initially conceived, as the States are the primary obligors of the project. The governors acknowledge the work and contributions of the Ministry of Women Affairs in promoting gender equality, empowering women, and advancing social development across Nigeria.

    4. The Forum discussed the New National Minimum Wage. The Governors agreed to continue engaging with key stakeholders to reach a mutually agreeable solution. We remain dedicated to the process and assure that better wages will result from the ongoing negotiations.

    H.E. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq

    Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum &

    Governor of Kwara State

  • States Govs open up on paying improved minimum wage

    States Govs open up on paying improved minimum wage

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) says state governments are reviewing their individual fiscal space and the consequential impact of various recommendations, to arrive at an improved minimum wage they can pay sustainably.

    The forum stated this in a communique issued by its Chairman, Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, on Thursday in Abuja, after its meeting.

    AbdulRazaq expressed the forum’s commitment to working  with relevant stakeholders to achieve a better wage for Nigerian workers.

    “Forum celebrates with workers across the country for their dedication to service and patience, as we work with the Federal Government, labour, organized private sector and relevant stakeholders in arriving at an implementable national minimum wage.

    “While we acknowledge the various initiatives adopted of recent by way of wage awards and partial wage adjustments, it is imperative to state that the 37-member tripartite committee inaugurated on the National Minimum Wage, is still in consultation and yet to conclude its work.

    “As members of the committee, we are reviewing our individual fiscal space as state governments and the consequential impact of various recommendations, to arrive at an improved minimum wage we can pay sustainably.

    ‘We remain committed to the process and promise that better wages will be the invariable outcome of ongoing negotiations,” he said.

    AbdulRazaq  also said that the forum received the World Bank outgoing Country Director, Mr Shubham Chaudhuri, and the incoming Country Director, Mr Ndiame Diop, to discuss the Bank’s vision for transitioning.

    He said Chaudhuri commended the forum’s non-partisan character and its strategic role in coordinating collective action for developmental change.

    The NGF chairman said that Chaudhuri also applauded commitment of state governments  to mutual accountability mechanisms such as performance-based financing interventions by the Bank.

    AbdulRazaq said that the forum expressed confidence in the choice of Diop, to lead the collaboration going forward, and look forward to a sustained and deepened relationship.

    He said that the forum also discussed the revised National Policy on Justice (2024 -2028) from the just-concluded National Summit on Justice on April 24 to April 25.

    The Kwara governor  added that the governors agreed to consider the submissions from the summit as might concern their individual states.

    These, according to him, include the recommended legal amendments, administrative improvements, and policies to strengthen the justice sector.

    He expressed the forum’s commitment to considering  issues bordering on remuneration of state judicial officers and the infrastructure of the courts.

    AbdulRazaq  said that  governors also  received a presentation from the National Human Capital Development (HCD) Programme – Core Working Group Secretariat- led by Ms. Rukaiya El-Rufai and Dr Ahmad Abdulwahab.

    The presentation, according to him, highlighted the marginal progress made by states and its contribution to Nigeria’s Human Development Index (HDI), especially across health, nutrition, education, and labour force participation.

    “Having reviewed the previous programme design and national strategy, a revised governance and implementation roadmap was proposed to scale up impact and ensure sustainability.

    “Members pledged to support the effective domestication of proposed revisions to the national health coverage strategy” he said.

    AbdulRazaq said that the forum also received delegation of State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER), Federal Ministry of Finance Programme Coordination Unit.

    He commiserated with the Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers and his Ogun counterpart, Gov. Dapo Abiodun over the petrol tanker explosion and gas explosion that occurred in their states on April 26 and April 27 respectively.

    The NGF Chairman called for proper maintenance of trucks, especially those fitted to convey Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and recommended appropriate training for truck drivers.

    On enforcement of regulations, he said  forum resolved to engage relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), in order to align the activities of federal regulators with the operations of officials at the sub-national level.

  • Northern Governors open up after closed door meeting with NSA, Service Chiefs

    Northern Governors open up after closed door meeting with NSA, Service Chiefs

    The Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) has opened up after having a closed door meeting with National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu and the nation’s Service Chiefs.

    Following the closed door meeting, NGF disclosed it has agreed to new options to address the spate of kidnappings in the Northern region of Nigeria.

    Chairman of the forum and Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, made this known to newsmen after the close door meeting on Thursday in Abuja.

    Yahaya said that the meeting reviewed the security situation and agreed to adopt alternative options to tackle it.

    The Governor said the alternative options would be different from what they had been doing before.

    He said the Governors were disposed to supporting both kinetic and non-kinetic options  to address the security challenges.

    “Already the military and all other security agencies have been doing their best.

    “What we need to do is to change style, especially adding the non-kinetic approach, so that at the end of it when we join the two, we’ll have a better security situation in the country,” he added.

    The closed door meeting was in response to the recent resurgence of mass abductions of students and residents in the region by terrorists.

    The terrorists had on March 7 abducted 287 primary and secondary school students in Kuriga, Kaduna State.

    Also, a total of 112 Internally Displaced Persons were abducted in Gamboru Ngala, Borno, and 15 Quranic school students in Sokoto State.

  • What Tinubu told Governors

    What Tinubu told Governors

    President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday received the endorsement of his decisions to end fuel subsidy payments in the country and other early policy initiatives of the administration.

    The president received the support when he hosted members of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), led by its chairman, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, at the State House in Abuja.

    The governors expressed happiness with the president’s subsidy removal decision, all-inclusive leadership and statesmanship.

    They congratulated Tinubu for tackling the fuel subsidy debacle, promising to work with him to ameliorate the short-term impact of the decision.

    Tinubu had earlier called on the governors to collaborate with the Federal Government in addressing the menace of poverty in the country, saying the level of impoverishment is unacceptable.

    The president advised the political leaders to downplay their differences and jointly focus on alleviating the sufferings and pains of the people.

    “We can see the effects of poverty on the faces of our people. Poverty is not hereditary, it is from the society.

    “Our position is to eliminate poverty, set aside partisan politics; we are here to deliberate about Nigeria and nation-building,’’ he said.

    Tinubu stated that the country should be seen as one big family.

    “We are a family occupying one house, and sleeping in different rooms. If we see it that way and push forward, we will get our people out of poverty. A determined mind is a fertile ground for delivering on results,’’ he stressed.

    The president said that good governance would safeguard the future of democracy.

    “Present in this room is our diversity in culture and politics, but we are one nation. The unity and stability of the country rest upon us.

    “We have managed ourselves very well to have a democracy. We have campaigned and arrived at our present destination. We must work for our people,’’ he charged the governors.

    Tinubu assured them that he would maintain an open-door policy and was prepared to share ideas, strengthen institutions and create bottom-up frameworks that would improve the livelihood of Nigerians.

    “We need synergy to fight other vices like corruption. We are trying to get smugglers out of the way. How do we work together to galvanise the economy and put resources in place. We must think and perform.

    “After removing subsidy, there must be savings accruing to the Federation Account,’’ he noted.

    Tinubu said the education sector must be improved as part of efforts to reduce poverty and penury.

    He also drew attention to the security problems in some states, urging the governors to put in all efforts to tackle insecurity.

    The president said he was prepared to share ideas, strengthen institutions, and create bottom-up frameworks that would improve the livelihood of Nigerians.

    “We need synergy to fight other vices like corruption. We are trying to get smugglers out of the way. How do we work together to galvanize the economy, and put resources in place. We must think and perform.

    “After removing subsidy, there must be savings accruing to the Federation Account,’’ he noted.

    Tinubu said the education sector must be improved as part of efforts to reduce poverty and penury.

    AbdulRazaq promised the president that the governors would support the Federal Government in meeting the targets of human development.

    He thanked the president for the invitation to deliberate on the challenges of poverty and security, promising that the governors will support the federal government in meeting the targets of human development.

  • Kwara gov. emerges new NGF chairman

    Kwara gov. emerges new NGF chairman

    Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State has been elected as chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

    In his acceptance speech made available after his election on Wednesday, Abdulrazaq said that he would continue the tradition of maintaining a close and cordial relationship with the President, arms of government, among other nation’s stakeholders.

    The new chairman of the NGF also promised to ensure regular consultation with all member governors in order to arrive at consensus on all issues for the advancement and promotion of national interest.

    “I want to thank Allah, exalted is He, for the historic event in which my brother Governors bestowed upon me the Chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). The significance and the huge responsibilities of this office are not lost on me.

    “I hereby pledge to uphold the ideals and vision of the NGF whilst recognizing and appreciating the eminent track record of the institution as a most credible, authoritative, influential and effective inter-party platform for consensus building and peaceful resolution and advancement of pan-Nigeria goals, interests and aspirations.

    “l will ensure regular consultation with all members in order to arrive at consensus on all issues for the advancement and promotion of national interest, peace, progress, and stability of the nation.

    “As a body, we will also continue our tradition of maintaining a close and cordial relationship with His Excellency the President, the National Assembly, all Federal and State institutions, the business community, the civil society, media, and development partners.

    “Finally, l wish to thank my dear colleagues for the confidence reposed in me as the new Chairman of NGF”.

     

     

  • Governors to meet President Buhari on new revenue formula

    Governors to meet President Buhari on new revenue formula

    The 36 states governors are to meet President Muhammadu Buhari to discuss with him on the need to present new revenue formular to the 9th National Assembly for passage into law before the end of his administration.

    Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen after the forum’s meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Tambuwal said that the governors discussed issues that bordered on national, sub-national, democracy and good governance, including the need for timely release of the collected stamp duties warehoused in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for disbursement.

    “Today, we discussed the guidelines by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) on financial regulations that it is working on in ensuring that Nigeria is taken out of grey lists of the financial tax force.

    “We also discussed the issue of Primary Healthcare Seattle Declaration and the progress made so far. During our induction course, some states that have attained some milestones are going to receive some awards for their performance.

    “We discussed the new revenue formular submitted to Mr President by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission (RMFC) and the need for us to approach Mr President on the need for him to present the new draft formular to National Assembly before this administration winds up.

    “We also discussed the issue of stamp duties that have been held, both the Federal Government and the states that is warehoused in Central Bank of Nigeria.

    “We are working to make sure that it is released for disbursements to both federal government and state,” Tambuwal said.

    Fielding questions on details of the new draft revenue formular and if the forum was satisfied with it, Tambuwal said the details of the new formular would be revealed when presented.

    “We are going to meet Mr President as the leadership of the forum and we will appeal to him to present that draft revenue formular. By the time it is presented, you will see what is there.”

    On his assessment of the NGF, Tambuwal said that the forum had helped the governors in maintaining cohesion, unity, non partisanship, making sure that all that they did was about Nigeria first and their various states.

    “The NGF is actually doing well in terms of bringing governors together, working together for national interest, for the interests of the states.

    “Making sure that there is that unity amongst governors on national issues. I believe NGF has done very well.”

  • Naira notes: 36 State Govs invite Emefiele for crucial meeting

    Naira notes: 36 State Govs invite Emefiele for crucial meeting

    The 36 state governors have invited the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emiefele, for a virtual meeting on Thursday over issues related to the new naira notes introduced by the apex bank.

    The Head, Media and Public Affairs, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Secretariat, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Bello-Barkindo said that the meeting, according to the invitation issued to Emiefele by the Chairman of NGF, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, would commence at 9 pm prompt.

    “Issuing the invitation, the Nigeria Governors Forum Director General, Mr Asishana Bayo Okauru, said the agenda is on the recent CBN policy of redesigning the Naira Notes,” Bello-Barkindo said.

    The CBN announced the initial decision of the Apex Bank to redesign the Naira note on Oct. 26, 2022, while it also set Jan. 31, 2023, as the deadline for the old note to serve as legal tender.

    Bello-Barkindo said that for the virtual meeting agenda is titled “ The Economic and Security implications of naira redesign and withdrawal policy.”

    “The discussion promises to foster participation and dialogue between various stakeholders, including governments and civil society organizations to come out with a solution to the lingering issue.”

  • 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.”

  • Poverty index: Your claims represent a brazen descent into selective amnesia – NGF to FG

    Poverty index: Your claims represent a brazen descent into selective amnesia – NGF to FG

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has reacted to the federal government’s claim of states being responsible for the increase in poverty rate in the country.

    NGF’s spokesperson, AbdulRazaque Bello-Barkindo in a statement released on behalf of Governors, said the claim of the minister of state for budget and national planning, Clement Agba, represents a brazen descent into selective amnesia.

    He stated that dereliction of duty from the centre is the main reason why there’s an increase in poverty rate.

    The statement read;

    “The tirade early this week by the minister of state for budget and national planning Clement Agba, on the 36 Governors, where he blamed them for the rising poverty index in the country came to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum as a surprise,” the statement reads.

    “The minister got his message totally wrong. His attacks are not only unnecessary, but they represent a brazen descent into selective amnesia. It is also diversionary as far as the Governors are concerned.

    “The minister who should be responding to a question demanding to know what he and his colleague, the minister of finance, budget and national planning, Zainab Ahmed, were doing to ameliorate the hardship of  Nigerians attempted to defray the notion that rising levels of hunger and lack were peculiar to Nigeria.

    “True as that may be Agba went further to explain that their government, through many of its social security programs, has been dedicating resources to alleviating hardship, and then goes further to accuse state governors of misdirecting resources to projects that have no impact on the people.

    “While rightly pointing out that 72% of the poverty in Nigeria is found in the rural areas, the minister said that the rural populace had been abandoned by governors.

    “This assertion is not only preposterous and without any empirical basis, but also very far from the truth. It is Clement Agba’s veiled and deliberate effort as a minister, to protect his paymasters and politicize very critical issues of national importance.

    “First and foremost, the primary duty of any government is to ensure the security of lives and property, without which no sensible human activity takes place.

    “But the federal government which is responsible for the security of lives and property has been unable to fulfil this covenant with the people thus allowing bandits, insurgents, and kidnappers to turn the country into a killing field, maiming and abducting people, in schools market squares and even on their farmlands.

    “This dereliction of duty from the centre is the main reason why people have been unable to engage in regular agrarian activity and in commerce.

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

    “The question is, how can a defenceless rural population maintain a sustainable lifestyle of peace and harmony when their lives are cut prematurely, and they wallow permanently in danger?

    “How does a minister whose government has been unable to ensure security, law and order have the temerity to blame governors?”

    Also recounting how the Buhari-led administration promised to take 100 million Nigerians out of poverty during the 2019 campaign, the NGF added;

    “Two states, Edo State and Akwa Ibom state, had promptly responded to the vituperations of the minister.

    “According to Akwa Ibom state, what determines poverty and unemployment in a country is its economic policy, which is set normally by the central government nationally. Akwa Ibom insists that the federal government cannot abdicate its responsibility by blaming states and goes further to ask, albeit rhetorically, how economic policies in a state drive the dollar which determines almost every aspect of our national existence.

    “In its response to Clement Agba, Edo State, on the other hand, reeled out the projects the state embarked upon which were targeted at alleviating poverty among its people. Agba is perceptibly oblivious to them. Many other states have been implementing pro-poor programs in their domain, and they are there for all to see.

    “For example, it is the Federal Government that, in its campaign message in 2019, promised to take 100 million Nigerians out of poverty. Today, records show that more than 130 million Nigerians are living below the globally accepted poverty line of a dollar a day.

    “Under the current administration that Clement Agba is minister, the national cash cow, the NNPC, had failed to remit statutory allocations to states in several months.

    “The situation had compelled governors to rely on other sources of revenue like the SFTAS program and other interventions anchored by the NGF, to fund states activities while monies budgeted for such federal ministries as Agriculture, Rural Development and Humanitarian Affairs are not being deployed in the direction of the people.

    “So, where is the Minister getting his unverified facts and figures from? It is important to mention here that only this week the house of representatives asked the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouk, to quit office if she was not ready to do her work of alleviating poverty in the land. This, in other words, is a resounding vote of no confidence on the ministers among whom Agba serves.

    “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum would like to state categorically that it does not indulge in joining issues with the Federal Executive Council, being a non-partisan organ. The NGF’s primary mandate is to partner with all well-meaning institutions, concerns, MDAs, and individuals for the progress of the Nigerian people.

    “However, it is important to put on record the progress made by state governors in the administration of their states, which have witnessed tremendous progress in recent times.

    “Governors have undertaken projects where they, in conjunction with their people, deem them fit for purpose. Governors have today shown greater responsiveness to the yearnings and aspirations of their people, and these vary from one state to another.

    “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.

    “Finally, it is important to admonish top government functionaries like Clement Agba that the Nigerian people deserve answers from even those who are appointed to serve them, and these finger-pointing invectives on soft targets do not help the matter, only answers do.”

  • Paris Club refund: NGF to explore legal options to prevent illegal payment to consultants

    Paris Club refund: NGF to explore legal options to prevent illegal payment to consultants

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) says it will explore all legal options on the disbursement of the $418 million Paris Club refund and promissory notes to ensure resources meant for state governments are not illegally paid to consultants.

    The forum disclosed this in a statement issued by its Chairman, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, on Wednesday in Abuja after the teleconference meeting of the 36 state governors.

    “Regarding the $418 million Paris Club Refund and promissory notes issued to consultants by the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Debt Management Office (DMO), the forum remains resolute in exploring all legal channels available to it in ensuring that resources belonging to states are not unjustly or illegally paid to a few in the guise of consultancy,” he said.

    Tambuwal said the forum had also instructed its lawyers to approach the Federal High Court on the proposed privatisation of 10 National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs) by the Federal Government.

    “The forum, following its advocacy that the proposed privatisation of 10 NIPPs by the Federal Government should be stopped, instructed its lawyers to approach the Federal High Court which at present has issued a court order restraining all the parties in the suit from taking any step or action that will make or render the outcome of the motion on notice seeking for interlocutory injunction nugatory.

    “The effect of the order of the court is that respondents cannot proceed with the proposed sale of the power plants belonging to the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHCL) until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction,” he said.

    Tambuwal added that sequel to discussions between sub-sovereigns at the recently concluded 2nd African Sub-Sovereign Government Network (AfSNET) Conference, the forum agreed to pursue support for enhanced dialogue, cooperation and collaboration between sub-sovereign governments around intra-African trade, investment, industrialisation and development.

    He said that such would be done through membership on the Forum of Regions of Africa (FORAF) and its partnership with the African Export–Import (AFREXIM) Bank.

    The governor said that the forum was also monitoring the flood situation across the country and working with the Federal Government to prepare emergency interventions to ameliorate the impact of the floods food security.

    Tambuwal said that the forum was working with the Federal Government through the National Economic Council (NEC) and in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD).

    Others, according to him, include the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHDSD), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning (FMFBNP) and the World Bank

    Members were also briefed by the World Bank Task Team Leader (TTL), Prof. Foluso Okunmadewa, on the desired restructuring of the $750 million Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (CARES) programme to respond to Nigeria 2022 Flood Response following discussions with States and the National Economic Council (NEC) Ad hoc Committee on Flooding.

    “The restructuring will allow states re-allocate funding from the programme for immediate response for livelihoods, assets and basic services.

    “As the flood recedes, the states through the programme will be able to support the household enterprise recovery grants, short-term transfer of households displaced, labour intensive opportunities for unskilled labor, rehabilitation of basic services infrastructure, recovery of damaged agricultural infrastructure, rehabilitation of destroyed wet markets, amongst others.”

    Tambuwal added that forum received update on the implementation progress of the States Fiscal Transparency Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme which is in its last phase of annual assessment.

    He said that the update was received from the Senior Progamme Manager, NGF SFTAS Technical Assistance Programme, Olanrewaju Ajogbasile.

    “Members were also informed of technical assistance planned and ongoing to support sustainability of the reforms including support to ensure states publish their 2023 budget in line with the National Chart of Account (NCoA).

    “The forum assured the programme of its commitment to sustain the reforms and implement recommendations that could further strengthen their public financial management systems,” he said.

    He also said that the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, briefed the forum on the congestion of the custodial centres across the country and the digitalisation of immigration processes.

    “Members welcomed the report of the minister and committed to working with law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on the recommendations put forward as they relate to individual state jurisdiction.”

    Tambuwal also said that the NGF Senior Health Advisor, Dra Ahmad Abdulwahab, briefed the forum on the progress with polio routine immunisation highlighting that there has been an 85 per cent reduction in the number of Circulating Vaccine-Derived PolioVirus (cVDPV) in 2022 from 1,028 cases recorded in 2021.

    “Members were also provided update on the implementation progress of the COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Project (CoPREP) and the recently launched Primary Health Care (PHC) Leadership Challenge.

    “The forum reiterated its commitment to the Seattle Commitments and PHC strengthening, including the judicious use and timely release of counterpart fund where required.”