Governors of the 36 states under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) will on Wednesday, review issues bothering on the World Bank Cares program, progress report on the refunds to states on Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) deductions and restructuring of states’ loans.
Tribune Online reports that other issues to be discussed at the 10th teleconference meeting since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown, include CACOVID distribution of palliatives and reimbursements for construction of federal roads to states like Rivers, Bayelsa, Ondo, Osun, Cross Rivers, among others.
According to a statement issued by the NGF’s Head of Media & Public Affairs, Mr Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, the Forum is also expected to receive the report from the Committee chaired by Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State which was set up at the last NEC meeting in March 2020 to review the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy for endorsement.
According to him, the governors will also receive memoranda from various groups including a statement from the Nigeria Governors Spouses Forum, headed by the wife of the chairman and governor of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi.
“The Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum is briefing the Nigeria Governors’ Forum on violence against women and children and of course rape, which have become a matter of national emergency as the number of incidences continues to take front burner in the country.
“The teleconference is to review the COVID-19 situation in the various states of the country and advance or evolve more pragmatic ways of dealing with the pandemic, going forward.
“The virtual meeting takes place online tomorrow, Wednesday 10th June 2020 at 2 pm.
“According to the invitation sent from the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr Asishana Bayo Okauru to the governors lists the issues to be discussed at the meeting including an update on Executive Order 10, a brief from a subcommittee that was assigned to engage the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 headed by Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State among other pressing national issues.
“Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State will also present the report of his committee set up at the last NEC meeting in March 2020 to review the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy for endorsement.
“The state governors will also take a peek into such issues as the World Bank Cares program, the public hearing on the NCDC Bill 2020, the progress made on the refunds to states on FAAC deductions, the restructuring of states’ loans by the CBN Governor Mr Godwin Emefiele and the reimbursements for construction of federal roads to states like Rivers, Bayelsa, Ondo, Osun, Cross Rivers, among others.
“The Inspector-General of Police has also been invited to brief the governors on the Police Trust Fund just as the Women Affairs Minister, Mrs Pauline Talen will interface with Governors on critical gender issues including rape and sexual violence in the country,” the statement read in part.
The Forum is also expected to discuss issues on the CACOVID distribution of palliatives and also feedback from states, with the view to get an update to see whether or not the palliatives have made any impact on the citizenry.
By Kehinde Akintola,
Nigerian Tribune