The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Monday disclosed that FAAC deductions and refunds, the ongoing restructuring of state loans and the hanging infrastructure refunds to five states, and other issues would be discussed during its eleventh teleconference scheduled for Wednesday 24th June 2020.
NGF named Rivers State, Bayelsa State, Cross River State, Ondo and Osun States, as states whose infrastructure refunds are still hanging.
Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, Head, Media and Public Affairs, of the NGF Secretariat, in a statement, on Monday, noted that the meeting which is expected to be joined by all the 36 governors of the federation is scheduled to begin at 2 pm.
According to the invitation issued by the Director General of the Forum Mr. Asishana Bayo Okauru Monday morning, several crucial national questions would be addressed by the governors, prominent among which revolve around health, the economy and infrastructure.
“After brokering the suspension of industrial action by the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) the governors are expected to review the doctor’ grievances in order to tackle the problem towards ensuring that the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, return to work and provide their services in a convivial working atmosphere.
“Also expected to feature in the NGF meeting is a presentation on the update of the Covid-19 strategic plan by the Health Minister, Dr Osagie Ohanire.
Another update on the NGF’s committee of governors mandated by the Forum to interface with the Presidential Task Force on the Covid-19 pandemic headed by Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State will also be brought before the Forum, for review.
“Recall that governors have been in the forefront of the struggle to get Nigeria off the global polio map which finally materialised a couple of weeks ago, the report of which will be placed before them at the meeting, to accord them the chance to adopt new strategies of maintaining the polio-free status of the country.
“On the economy, Governors will be looking at the FAAC deductions and refunds, the ongoing restructuring of state loans and the hanging infrastructure refunds to five states, namely Rivers State, Bayelsa State, Cross River State, Ondo and Osun States.
“The National Economic Council (NEC) agenda will also be brought for consideration along with Governor Nasiru el-Rufai’s committee’s report to the NEC which the governors will ratify before it is presented at NEC.
“The World Bank will also feature prominently at the 11th Teleconference as the States’ Financial Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) program which the Edo State Governors Godwin Obaseki and Yue Man Lee of the World Bank have been driving will request the consent of the Governors to launch a new e-procurement initiative.
“Other briefs will revolve around the World Bank Cares initiative and an update will be tabled around the request for additional financing that states have been seeking from the World Bank, the invite from the Director General indicated” stated Bello-Barkindo.
By Matthew Ogune,
Oasis Magazine