Fayemi Emerges NGF Chair
Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti has emerged the new chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) through a consensus.
Gov. Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara, who is
also the outgoing chairman of the forum disclosed this after a meeting
held on Wednesday night in Abuja.
Yari disclosed that Fayemi was nominated
by Malam Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, seconded by the Governor of
Delta, Ifeanyi Okowa, and unanimously elected by the governors to lead
the forum till 2021.
Yari added that “Members also elected Gov. Aminu Tambwal of Sokoto State as the vice Chairman of the forum from 2019 to 2021.”
He explained that Tambuwal was nominated
by Gov. Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State and seconded by his Ondo State
counterpart, Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu.
Reading a communiqué at the end of the
meeting, Yari said that the forum was concerned with the recent
guidelines of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
The guidelines according to him sought
to impose restriction on the powers of states and local governments to
operate within constitutionally approved parameters.
“The new guidelines have no legal basis
under the NFIU Act and are contrary to constitutional provisions which
put the State Joint Local Government Account under the legislation of
the State Houses of Assembly.
“The guidelines will also be detrimental
to the interest of States and local governments by crippling programmes
such as the Universal Basic Education programme, Primary Health Care
Under One Roof, as well as the payment of the salaries of teachers,
medical doctor and health workers among others which are primarily
funded by state governments.”
On the call by the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) governors to declare state of emergency on issue of
insecurity, Yari said that they had all agreed to meet President
Muhammadu Buhari for one-on-one discussion.
“The issue of security is under the
mandate of Mr president, we are supporting him because he is the
Commander-in-Chief and we hope to come up with solutions with him, ” he
said.
In his acceptance remark, Fayemi expressed his gratitude for the confidence reposed on him by colleagues.
He pledged to build on the achievements of his predecessors and success stories of the forum.
He said “We will build on commitment
with strong partnership with the Federal Government as federating unit
and trash out issues as amicably as possible, in the overall interest of
the country.”
He pledged that they would represent the interests of Nigeria irrespective of their political affiliations.
“Whatever we are going to do will be in
overall interest of the nation in ensuring that our states are
continuously strengthened.
”Our country derives the benefit of
strong, dedicated states to our citizens and the partnership with all
arms of government, development partners working with us in the over all
interest of Nigeria.
He commended the outgoing chairman and the secretariat for their commitment to states and Nigeria at large.
(NAN)
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