Governors Urge Sambo To Give Jonathan Full SupportGovernors’ Forum Calls For Improved Allocation To States

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has called on the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to cushion the effect of the economic downturn on the states.

Rising from its meeting, held at the Kwara State Liaison Office in Abuja, the forum said the downturn, which had resulted in the reduced monthly allocation to the states needed to be augmented by the Federal Government and the proposals to this effect is expected to be presented to the next meeting of the Federal Council of States.

The Chairman of the forum, Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State alongside the Deputy Chairman Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State, recently stated that standing committees were to be set up by the governors’ forum as part of the effort to strengthen the capacity of its secretariat.

The committees to be set up are on energy, culture, environment, water supply among others.

The forum expressed concern over the guidelines and operational conditions set up by the Federal Government for states to access the fund of some Federal Government agencies with special emphasis on the States Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) fund and promised to make presentations to this effect.

It also agreed to strengthen the governorship institution, through capacity building, training and retreat programmes for the governors, within and outside the country.

Governor Saraki also expressed delight over the support and collaboration efforts of the developmental partners in helping to build capacity and operational identity of the forum on public policy issues.

The NGF commended the working visit embarked upon by the secretariat of the forum which had taken them to the South-East and South-South states of the country. It said the visit would enable the secretariat design develop a frame-work for peer review mechanism among the states.

In a way to achieve the desired result, the secretariat has been directed to develop the formulae to communicate the framework to all the states.

The forum threw her weight behind all effort of the Federal Government and the South-South states towards the resolution of the Niger Delta problem and as well, commended all the steps being taken to achieve lasting peace in the area.

The governors’ forum said it is still committed to the kick-polio out of Nigeria campaign as the 36 state governors would soon lead the polio eradication campaign in their respective states as part of their commitment.