FAQ

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Q1. What is the Nigeria Governors’ Forum?

A. The Nigeria Governors’ Forum is a coalition of the 36 democratically- elected Governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Q2. What is the vision of the Forum?

A. To be an effective, proactive, bi-partisan lobby group which fosters promotes and sustains democratic ethos, good governance in Nigeria and be a shining light and a beacon of democratic values in Africa and beyond.

Q3. What is the Forum’s Mission Statement?

A. To provide a common platform for synergy, collaboration amongst governors, the federating units whilst impacting positively on issues of public policy and common interests.

Q4. What are the objectives of the Forum?

A. bring the Governors together to share experiences, promote cooperation among States, serve as mechanism for conflict resolution between States on one hand and between States and federal government on the other.

Q5. When was it established?

A. It was established on the 26th of April, 1999 when the 36 governors started a four-day inaugural meeting in Abuja, the federal capital under the Chairmanship of Governor Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa State.

Q6. What was the inspiration for the Forum’s establishment?

A. The establishment of the Forum was inspired by the United States-based National Democratic Institute as well as the Canadian-based Forum of Federations (FF) and it was modeled after the American National Governors’ Association.

Q7. What are the principal organs of the Forum?

A. They comprise of first – the Forum, which is the coalition of the governors with a Chairman and second, the Secretariat, headed by a Director-General assisted by two Executive Directors, one for Strategy and Research and the second, Administration and Finance.

Q8. Who are the current principal officers of the Forum and the Secretariat?

A. Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State is the Chairman of the Forum while the Secretariat is headed by Mr. Asishana Okauru.

Q9. How are the organs maintained and administered?

A. The Secretariat is being maintained with contributions from the States and the Chairman convenes meetings whenever issues of common concern arise.

Q10. Where is the Forum Secretariat located?

A. It is located at No. 1 Deng Xiaoping Street, off AIT Junction, in the high-brow Asokoro district of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

Q11. Has the Nigeria Governors’ Forum had any beneficial impact on the Nigerian Federation?

A. Several. First, when there were strong moves to impeach the then President Olusegun Obasanjo in the early years of his administration, the forum adopting a multi-party approach opposed it and it was averted.

Secondly, when there was a problem about revenue allocation, the forum tested it up to the Supreme Court which delivered judgment in its favour, thus strengthening the Constitution and the democratic process.

Third, there was stiff opposition by Labour and the general populace to the planned deregulation of the downstream oil sector by the President Obasanjo administration, with the implication of fuel price hikes, which led the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to threaten strike action. It took the vigorous intervention of the forum to avert the strike and stabilize the polity.

Fourth, the recent strike threats by teachers concerning low wages and their generally poor conditions of service were averted by the governors.