The 36 State Governors under the aegis of Nigerian Governors’Forum (NGF) on Thursday resolved to address the growing Health Security challenges by domesticating the National Action Plan for Health Security as Nigeria records 47,000 cases of cholera across 23 states.
The common position adopted by the state governors was contained in a communique signed by Governor Kayode Fayemi, Chairman, NGF, and made available to journalists in Abuja.
The governors also resolved to take additional measures to curb the resurgence of the spread of the Covid-19 virus by working with the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) to develop applicable guidelines.
exercise.
“On a related matter, members resolved to take additional measures to curb the resurgence of the spread of the Covid-19 virus by working with the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) to develop applicable guidelines.
“The Forum’s Senior Health Advisor, Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab briefed Governors on the emerging cholera outbreak in the country which has so far affected 23 States, with over 47,000 cases recorded. State Governors took a common position on a holistic approach to addressing Health Security challenges by domesticating the National Action Plan for Health Security with the support from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to build core health security capacities in surveillance, laboratory network, emergency operations and workforce in all States” noted the NGF Chairman.
On the recent Federal High Court Judgment on Value Added Tax (VAT), Fayemi said the Forum resolved not to make any pronouncements until all litigations regarding the matter were concluded.
He added that the Forum also resolved to work with the Steering Committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari
to oversee the process of the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Bill headed by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva.
“Finally, an update on the States’ Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability (SFTAS) Program-for-Results (PforR) was made by Olanrewaju Ajogbasile of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), who provided updates on the upcoming deadlines for the achievement of Disbursement-Linked Results (DLRs), the ongoing Annual Performance.
Assessment (APA) by the Independent Verification Agent (IVA) and the States’ debt reconciliation exercise being carried out in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning (FMBNP), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Debt Management Office (DMO). The Forum committed to providing the support and direction necessary to ensure the successful implementation of reforms recommended by the programme”.
By Chidi Ugwu,
The Independent Newspaper