The Judiciary Watchdogs, a group of lawyers from the 36 states of the federation, commended the governors for their courageous stand.

According to the lawyers, who have been vocal against corruption in Nigeria, the EFCC’s enabling act was enacted without input from state assemblies, violating the principles of federalism and state autonomy.

In a statement signed by Co-National Convener, Barr Real S. Dennis, the lawyers said the governors were on track for demanding constitutional compliance, state sovereignty, and accountability from the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies.

For the lawyers, getting the foundation right would help the war against corruption as the agencies now, particularly the EFCC, have only allegedly been fighting proxy wars for successive presidents.

Dennis argued that the National Assembly must ratify the UN Convention against Corruption in accordance with Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution.

He further said the lawsuit would have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s federal system, anti-corruption efforts, and democratic governance, while advising the Federal Government to look critically at the reason the EFCC appeared to be consistently embroiled in controversy.

“We, the Judiciary Watchdogs, a group of lawyers from the 36 states of the federation wholeheartedly applaud the bold and visionary leadership of the 16 state governors who have taken a historic step to challenge the constitutionality of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and others at the Supreme Court,” the statement reads in part.

“A group of people who claim to be lawyers under the aegis of the Anti-Corruption Lawyers Network condemned this move, suggesting it was a desperate attempt to undermine the fight against corruption. However, we believe that the state’s action is a legitimate pursuit of constitutional clarity and accountability. As it is in Nigeria today, there is no genuine fight against corruption.

“This is a significant legal challenge for Nigeria’s federal structure. The Constitution empowers states as key stakeholders in lawmaking, especially regarding governance. However, the Federal Government’s unilateral creation of agencies like the EFCC undermines federalism and state autonomy.

“The states involved aren’t seeking to dismantle these agencies but advocate for a balanced system respecting all levels of government. International conventions complicate national sovereignty, and Nigeria must uphold treaties while honouring constitutional obligations.

“Moreover, the effectiveness of the anti-graft agencies, particularly the EFCC, in addressing corruption has been called to question. Numerous allegations of mismanagement, selective enforcement, and abuse of power have plagued these institutions.

“The EFCC, in particular, has faced criticism for operating beyond its mandate, often pursuing politically motivated cases that raise concerns about its impartiality. This lack of accountability is compounded by the absence of a robust framework to ensure transparency in its operations.

“A disbandment of these agencies could pave the way for a more accountable and effective mechanism for combating corruption—one that operates within the bounds of the law and commands public trust.

“These agencies have been known to target political adversaries while corruption cases involving those perceived to be allies of the governments of the day are willfully unaddressed or were handled less vigorously.

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“Also, the influence of Aso Rock over the operations and decisions of these agencies, undoubtedly has compromised their effectiveness. For instance, in October 2015, Godswill Akpabio was charged by the EFCC over allegations of looting the treasuries of Akwa Ibom State as Governor to the tune of N108 billion. Nine years after that case is stultified, killed by the same EFCC that began the prosecution.”

By seeking constitutional clarity and accountability, the lawyers said these governors had demonstrated commitment to upholding the rule of law, protecting Nigeria’s federal system, and ensuring that the EFCC operates within legally established parameters.

They stated, “The United Nations Convention against Corruption, ratified by Nigeria on December 14, 2004, must be implemented in accordance with Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“This section unequivocally states that no treaty can have the force of law in Nigeria until ratified by a majority of all the Houses of Assembly in the Federation.

“The governors are building on the landmark case of Dr. Joseph Nwobike Vs Federal Republic of Nigeria, where the Supreme Court held that the EFCC Establishment Act was enacted without following Section 12 provisions.“

Among other things, the lawyers are demanding

constitutional compliance, adding that the National Assembly must ratify the UN Convention against Corruption in accordance with Section 12.

They are also seeking sovereignty for states to have the right to establish anti-graft agencies, independent of federal control.

“The outcome of this lawsuit will have profound implications for Nigeria’s federal system, anti-corruption efforts, and democratic governance. If successful, it may resolve contentious issues.

“We commend the 19 state governors for their courage and vision. Their pursuit of constitutional clarity and sovereignty will strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and ensure the rule of law reigns supreme. We stand with them and urge the Supreme Court to uphold the Constitution.

“We want to warn those impostors to steer clear of matters that they have no clue about. We are also calling on security agencies to take notice of this group,” they said.

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Nigerian governors could be described as a special breed. Special in the sense that they listen and follow whatever comes to their heads without thinking it through. Just last June, when the federal government was negotiating a new minimum wage with labour leaders in the country, they came out with a statement that the N60,000 then proposed by the federal government’s negotiation team was dead on arrival as they won’t be able to pay such amount of money to their workers at the state level.

The governors, through their body, the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), in a statement signed by the acting Director on Media and Public Affairs, Hajiya Halimah Salihu Ahmed, told the world that the N60,000 figure proposed by the federal government was not sustainable and therefore, cannot fly.

Let me quote the governors: “All things considered, the NGF holds that the N60,000 minimum wage proposal is not sustainable and cannot fly. It will simply mean that many states will spend all their FAAC allocations on just paying salaries with nothing left for development purposes. In fact, a few states will end up borrowing to pay workers every month. We do not think this will be in the collective interest of the country, including workers. We appeal that all parties involved, especially the labour unions, consider all the socio-economic variables and settle for an agreement that is sustainable, durable, and fair to all other segments of the society who have legitimate claim to public resources,” the governors retorted.

At the beginning of the wage negotiation, labour leaders had asked for a living wage of N615,000 as the new national minimum wage. They came up with the then prevailing socio-economic figures that could sustain an average family of six, comprising father, mother and four children in a month. But as the negotiation progressed, their demand was reduced to N494,000, and later N250,000. The federal government team, as expected, started from a very ridiculous figure of N48,000, which was later increased to N54,000, and then N60,000. It was at this stage that the governors issued their press statement, which forced labour to walk out on the tripartite committee set up by the government to give the nation a new minimum wage.

With appeal from well-meaning Nigerians and the Presidency, labour returned to the negotiating table where a new proposal of N62,000 was put before the workers’ unions. With tension at its peak, President Bola Tinubu magnanimously increased the figure to N70,000 when he held a one-on-one meeting with labour leaders which was eventually accepted by the workers’ unions.

READ ALSO: Ogun: Govt suspends teacher, queries principal over pupil’s death

However, Tinubu promised to review workers’ pay every three years instead of five years as stipulated by law as well as promising several incentives to the labour leaders.

With negotiation completed and a new Minimum Wage Act signed into law by President Tinubu, our all-powerful Governors are now even fixing new minimum wage for their states far above the N70,000 fixed by the federal government.

Aren’t these the same set of people who had, in June, come out to reject the N60,000 before it was eventually pushed to N70,000 by the President but are now falling over themselves to pay far above the N70,000 minimum wage?

As at the last count, more than 10 states have announced figures far above the new minimum wage. Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on October 16, 2024, announced a new minimum wage of N85,000 for Lagos State workers, N15,000 above the federal’s minimum. He cited the high cost of living in Lagos as a factor and expressed a goal to raise the minimum wage in the state to N100,000 by January 2025. The reasons adduced for this is not lost on many, as Lagos, being a metropolitan state, has one of the highest cost of living. Again, being the commercial nerve centre of the country, the state generates more internally generated revenue far above several states in the country, so giving back a little to the state workers won’t be a bad idea as it would serve as a way of motivating the workers on its pay roll to do more.

With subsidy gone and oil money flowing into the pockets of state governors through improved federal allocations, the statement issued by the governors in June was in bad faith and it is hoped that states won’t default in the payment of the wages they are now announcing for their workers.

Two days later, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, also approved N85,000 as the new minimum wage for the state’s civil servants. Being an oil producing state that enjoys special allocations from the federal government, Rivers State should be in a position to pay the new minimum wage without problem. The 13 per cent derivation it is collecting as an oil-producing state should be more than enough to take care of the excess.

With Lagos and Rivers States taking the front-row seat, other state Governors suddenly do not wish to be left out and the race to be counted among the jones paying above the federal government’s minimum started.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, soon approved a new minimum wage of N80,000 to public servants in the state. The state is also an oil-producing state and its internally generated revenue figures are not that bad. Governor Eno has also set up an implementation committee to work out modalities for the payment for which a report must be ready within a month.

In Niger State, the state Governor, Muhammed Bago, also announced a new minimum wage of N80,000 for civil servants in the state. His announcement led to wide spread celebrations among public servants, who now praise the Governor to high heavens. Senator Duoye Diri, governor of Bayelsa State also approved a new minimum wage of N80,000 for workers in the state effective November 1, 2024. He also approved an increase in the monthly pension of retired workers as well as N7 billion to reduce outstanding gratuity liabilities of the state.

Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State also joined the race by approving a new minimum wage of N77,000 on October 15. The new figure was agreed on after a meeting with labour leaders in state with the secretary to the state government, Tokunbo Talabi, leading the state government team. With a monthly internally generated revenue above N120 billion, Ogun State should be comfortable paying the new minimum wage. Infrastructure such as good roads are however in short supply in most parts of the state. The Sango-Ota-Abeokuta Expressway, a federal road, has been long abandoned, although the state government has moved in to change the narrative after several appeals from residents of the state in that axis.

Gombe State Governor, Muhammed Inuwa Yahaya and labour leaders in the state on October 14, also agreed to fix the new minimum wage at N71,451.15. Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on October 12, also announced a new minimum wage of N73,000 for state workers during his campaign kick-off ahead of the November 16 governorship election. Aiyedatiwa, who is seeking for votes from every corner, hopes to use the figure to woo workers to his side. Asides that, Ondo State should be in a position to pay such amount to its workers, with an average internally generated revenue of N32.6 billion monthly, coupled with the fact that the state is an oil-producing state, Aiyedatiwa may have endeared himself to workers in the state by his gesture.

Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, also not to be left out, announced a new minimum wage of N75,000 for civil servants in the state. Chairman of the NLC in the state, Murtala Usman, was full of praise for the Governor for ‘‘his large heart’’. He said that the union proposed three figures for the Governor. ‘’We proposed N72,000. N73,000 and N75,000, and he decided to go for the N75,000, which shows that he is for the workers. To crown it all, he also said that the payment would start this month of October.”

Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, also joined the rat-race, when he announced N72,500 as the new minimum wage for workers in the state. He went a step further by suspending payment of tax by civil servants in the state for one year. With an average of N18 billion monthly as internally generated revenue, it is hoped that the confluence state won’t run into trouble paying the new minimum wage age as the figure is expected to drop once civil servants are exempted from payment of tax for a whole year.

States such as Anambra, Katsina, Ebonyi, and Adamawa states have all agreed to pay the new minimum wage of N70,000 to their workers. Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State said that the payment would commence from October. Dikko Radda of Katsina State has also come out to say that the state would pay the new minimum wage. Ahmadu Fintiri in Adamawa State likewise gave approval for the payment of the new N70,000 minimum wage. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has already commenced the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage since September.

However, states where negotiations are still ongoing include Oyo, Borno, Osun, Jigawa, and, Zamfara State.

If the governors knew that they could pay far and above N70,000 minimum wage, why issue a press statement in June to the fact that many states won’t be able to pay N60,000 which stalled negotiation for almost a month?

Between June and October, what happened that forced the governors to have a change of heart? It is quite clear that most Nigerians, including public servants, are going through a very difficult phase in their life now with prices of goods and services out of the reach of many. An average household now spends more than 70 per cent of their income on food alone, leaving little or nothing for other needs. Most Nigerians now eat once in a day, as fuel subsidy removal as well as the floating of the Naira have made nonsense of the value and purchasing power of the masses.

Now, governors are in the good books of labour leaders and public servants in their respective states while federal workers are left to sulk.

The new minimum wage would however, turn out to be a win-win for all if those in the private sector, where the bulk of Nigerians earn their daily bread are also able to pay the new minimum wage to their workers. With the hike in electricity tariff, many of the manufacturing companies in the country coupled with the low purchasing power of the people are finding it hard to survive.

It would be a miracle if many of them do not downsize or out rightly refuse to implement the new national minimum wage for their workers. In a bid to prevent such possibility, the federal government is now considering introducing 50 per cent tax relief for companies that increase salaries or offer transportation allowances to low-income workers in their employ. Already, a bill to that effect is before the National Assembly.

With subsidy gone and oil money flowing into the pockets of state governors through improved federal allocations, the statement issued by the governors in June was in bad faith and it is hoped that states won’t default in the payment of the wages they are now announcing for their workers.

See you next week.

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Governors have been acting tongue-in-cheek in their reactions to last Thursday’s verdict of the Supreme Court, which stripped them of their suffocating grip  over the money meant for local governments in the country. As a collective, the governors unreservedly endorsed the judgement. Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRazak AbdulRahman, who spoke on behalf of the governors, said the forum welcomed the apex court’s ruling granting financial autonomy to the councils, describing the verdict as a relief from the burden on the governors. Addressing State House Correspondents on the matter after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday, Governor AbdulRazak was flanked by the Chairman of All Progressives Congress Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, and Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, Dr Bala Mohammed, suggesting they were all in agreement with Governor AbdulRasak in his pronouncement.

“Our Attorney-General has applied for the enrolment order, which we will study carefully. But by and large, governors are happy with the devolution of power in respect of local government autonomy. It relieves the burden on governors. Our people really don’t know how much states expend in bailing out local governments, and that’s the issue there,” Governor AbdulRasak said, adding that his government in Kwara State had never tampered with local government funds.

However, it was learnt that the governors were not happy with the decision of the federal government to take them to court and are merely playing to the gallery. For instance, a few days after the NGF Chairman spoke, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who is of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, described the case as a distraction. He questioned the sustainability of local governments receiving allocations from the federal government. Speaking with members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists in Ibadan, Oyo State, the governor said: “They said there is a judgment of the Supreme Court on local government autonomy. I think it is just a distraction. We must face the real issue that we have. The issue that we have is that we are not producing enough. We are not productive. Maybe it may be part of the problem, we want to have value for what is being shared but our problem is productivity.”

It may be argued that it is customary in our clime for an opposition governor to toe a different path from that of the President from a different party and this may be correct. However, the opposition of state governors to local council financial autonomy has never been in doubt. It has always been vainly concealed. In a report in The Punch newspaper of January 25, 2023, state houses of assemblies across Nigeria had rejected nine constitutional amendment bills, including the proposed legislation for financial and administrative autonomy for local government councils. The state assemblies were believed to have done so at the promptings of their governors who exert considerable influence over legislative processes at the state level. The rejected bills were part of the bills that the National Assembly transmitted to them for concurrence. The National Assembly had in March 2022, voted on 68 bills aimed at further amending the 1999 Constitution. At the end of the exercise, 44 of the bills were approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives and transmitted to the state assemblies for concurrence. A simple majority of votes was required in at least two-thirds of state assemblies (24 out of 36) for the amendments to sail through and the amendments that sail through would then be sent to the President for assent.

The Senate, in a motion by the then Chairman of the Senate ad-hoc committee on Constitution Review, Ovie Omo-Agege, said during plenary that 27 out of the 36 state assemblies had forwarded their resolutions on the constitution amendment bills to the National Assembly. Presenting his committee report, Omo-Agege said 35 bills satisfied constitutional provision, having been approved by not less than 24 state assemblies. Nine bills could not scale through. Prominent among the bills voted against by the state parliaments was the one seeking to grant financial and administrative autonomy to the country’s local governments. Also among the bills that did not sail through are the ones seeking the abrogation of state-local government joint account and establishment of local government as a tier of government, meaning a majority of the state assemblies, and by extension the governors, never wanted local governments to have absolute freedom.

It’s perhaps in realisation of this, and the overarching need for local governments to be financially empowered to cater to the challenges at the grassroots that President Tinubu took upon himself the crusade for financial autonomy for the local governments. He mandated the Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to institute a case against the governors at the Supreme Court. This is with a view to reinforcing democratic principles through full financial powers and effective devolution of power to the councils and ensuring genuine representation at the grassroots through periodic elections.

In the suit, the FG sought the enforcement of full autonomy of local governments in Nigeria and also for an order prohibiting state governors from embarking on unilateral, arbitrary and unlawful dissolution of democratically-elected local government chairmen, and constituting caretaker committees in their place. It also asked the court to make an order permitting the funds meant for the LGs to be directly channelled to them from the Federation Account in line with the provisions of the constitution as against how the governors take advantage of Section 162 (6) at the detriment of the local governments.

The Supreme Court’s verdict was very emphatic and unequivocal. All the reliefs sought by the FG were granted. The apex court ordered direct payment of council allocations, saying the 774 local councils in the federation should manage their funds without interference or deduction from any quarter. According to the apex court, it is unconstitutional for state governors to retain and utilise LG statutory allocations paid through them. The seven-man panel of the court led by Justice Emmanuel Agim also declared that a state has no power to appoint a caretaker committee, while it is mandatory for a local government council to be democratically governed.

“In this case since paying them through states has not worked, the justice of this case demands that the local government allocations from the Federation Account should henceforth be paid directly to the LG councils,” the apex court ruled. On the dissolution of democratically elected councils and appointments of caretaker committees by governors, Justice Agim held that it is a mandatory duty of the state governments or governors, under Section 7 (1) of the Constitution, to ensure their existence. “A democratically-elected local government is sacrosanct and non-negotiable,” the court added.

This landmark judgment is a critical step forward. It has now become imperative for the governors to file behind President Tinubu in ensuring that local councils become an independent and self-governing tier of government. The governors’ buy-in is important because when the chips are down, the state chief executives will still play an influential role in the election of local government chairmen. The governors must understand that to ensure genuine grassroots development and further strengthen our democracy, the local governments must be empowered financially.

Back to the issue of LG autonomy. There is still more work to be done. Like the state governors, the National Assembly must take concrete legislative actions to support the vision. The laws governing local government elections must be reworked to transfer the responsibility of conducting these elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission as opposed to the state independent electoral authorities, which are only independent in name.

This is part of the democratic re-engineering and restructuring the nation yearns for.

Indeed, not a few Nigerians are looking forward to the restructuring of the country under this president, given his antecedents. Apart from his numerous struggles for the entrenchment of democracy in the land, even as governor (1999-2007), he fought many battles with then President Olusegun Obasanjo on matters bordering on true federalism. Many would recall the issue of creation of 37 additional local governments in Lagos State during which he dragged the Federal Government to Supreme Court when President Obasanjo stopped the federal allocation to the state. In its ruling, the Supreme Court okayed the process leading to the creation of the councils and described the creation of the 37 new councils as legal, but declared them as inchoate because they had not been listed in the constitution as LGAs. Asíwájú Tinubu’s ingenuity came to play with the new councils becoming Local Council Development Areas. Today, these LCDAs have helped to expand the frontiers of development in Lagos.

There is also the matter of ownership of lands and granting of development plans in the states. Asiwaju Tinubu as Lagos governor filed a case at the Supreme Court to determine who had the power to control urban and regional planning in a state. Two of the issues determined were: whether the ownership rights of the federal Government over land in state territories include the power to control and regulate town planning and physical development in relation to such land.  And, whether all approvals, permits, and licences granted by the 1st defendant (federal government) or any of its agencies for any construction, building or physical development, or use of land in Lagos without the consent of the plaintiff are not illegal, null, and void. The Supreme Court granted the states power to grant building approvals and other development plans in the states where such federally-acquired lands are domiciled while not denying the federal government the right to also acquire lands in the states.

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For President Tinubu, restructuring has indeed begun. The President has been working to reinforce existing laws, promoting their judicial interpretation and, in some cases, outright amendments in a bid to strengthen democracy and engender fiscal federalism. It is a measure of his commitment to restructuring that one of the first bills he signed into law as the country’s President was the Electricity Act 2023, which he signed on June 6, 2023, barely eighth day in office, marking a significant milestone in the sector. The new law focuses on enhancing the regulation and management of the electricity value chain with the active participation of the sub-national governments. This, thus far, has resulted in the process of devolution of regulatory powers to three states – Enugu, Ekiti, and Ondo – to set up their electricity markets.

Importantly, the Nigerian Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee led by Mr. Taiwo Oyedele is still busy working on comprehensive tax reforms, including reforms to the country’s value-added tax (VAT) and other taxes that will restructure the system and further advance fiscal federalism in the end.

Back to the issue of LG autonomy. There is still more work to be done. Like the state governors, the National Assembly must take concrete legislative actions to support the vision. The laws governing local government elections must be reworked to transfer the responsibility of conducting these elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission as opposed to the state independent electoral authorities, which are only independent in name. This legislative initiative is crucial to eliminating the undue influence of state governors over the local government election process and ensuring the integrity of the polls. This change will be a significant move in complementing President Tinubu and Supreme Court’s efforts towards achieving genuine local government autonomy and enhancing democratic governance in Nigeria.

Speaking when he hosted some Yoruba elders on April 16, 2024 at the Presidential Villa, President Tinubu had pointed out that the matter of restructuring would be systematic, saying when the economy is properly on a firm footing, steps would be taken on restructuring so that it will be on a solid footing. “As I said in Akure, our approach to it would be as if a baby is learning how to walk. If the baby is rushed, it will fall,” he had said.

*Rahman is a Senior Presidential Aide.

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The step was taken to boost agricultural productivity, strengthen the economy by creating opportunities in the real sectors of agriculture, manufacturing, and construction, as well as provide urgent economic relief for Nigerians.

The announcement was made by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, in a press statement he issued.

According to him, under the programme, the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, which will traverse Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos, was prioritized.

“Other road infrastructure projects, such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which is underway, and the Trans-Saharan Highway, which links Enugu, Abakaliki, Ogoja, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Abuja, are also prioritized,” he said.

The president, he said, also approved full counterpart financing for Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway; to traverse Rivers, Abia, Enugu, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe and Borno, as well as for the Ibadan-Abuja segment of the Lagos-Kano Standard-Gauge Railway; which will traverse Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Niger, Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano.

The Sokoto-Badagry road project is said to be specially prioritized for its importance as some of the states it will traverse are strategic to the agricultural sustainability of the nation.

Within the Sokoto-Badagry Highway corridor, there are 216 agricultural communities, 58 large and medium dams spread across six states, seven Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs), 156 local government areas, 39 commercial cities and towns, and over 1 million hectares of arable land.

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In addition, other items under the National Construction and Household Support Programme include:

(1) One-off allocation to states and the Federal Capital Territory of N10 billion for the procurement of buses and CNG uplift programme.

(2) Delivery of N50,000 uplift grant each to 100,000 families per state for three (3) months.

(3) Provision for labour unions and civil society organizations.

(4) Deployment of N155 billion for the purchase and sale of assorted foodstuff to be distributed across the nation.

Speaking during the National Economic Council, NEC, meeting on Thursday in Abuja, President Tinubu urged state governors to work together to meet the needs of citizens, stating that he was willing to provide the needed support to ensure that Nigerians were relieved of hardship.

While emphasizing the urgency of boosting food production, the president noted that the Sokoto-Badagry Highway was a pivotal project as the states within the axis formed the food belt of the nation, and with Badagry being an important artery for food export.

“Our states must work together to deliver on the critical reforms required of us to meet the needs of our people. Time is humanity’s most precious asset. You can never have enough of it. It is getting late.

“We are ready and able to support you in the form of the mechanization of your agricultural processes and the provision of high-quality seedlings.

“We are prepared to provide solar powered irrigation facilities to support our farmers across seasons, but we must now produce. We must produce the food our people eat, and it will require coordination and intentionality between members of the National Economic Council, NEC.

“There is nothing we are doing that is more important than producing high-quality food for our people to consume, buy, and sell. We create jobs in the production of it. And that is before we generate wealth by exporting the excess. It is not beyond us to achieve this for Nigerians.

“How much support do you need from me and in what form? I am prepared to provide it. But we must achieve the result. We must deliver on our targets at all levels. Please report back following your consultations and submit to my office within seven days,” President Tinubu said.

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The call is contained in a communique issued at the end of their meeting held on Monday, June 25, 2024, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

In their 16 points communique, the forum called for strengthening of fiscal federalism and devolution of powers and expressed concern over current practices where mineral licenses are issued and explorations undertaken without recourse to State governments.

It noted that issuing mineral licenses without carrying the states along had resulted in criminal activities, attendant negative environmental impact, ecological degradation, and with no remediation commitment or revenue accruing to the states or the federal government.

The governors maintained that being the economic and industrial region of the country, there was need to address the inadequate power supply in the region by taking advantage of the recent constitutional amendment that now allows states to regulate, generate, transmit and distribute electricity whilst also considering optional sources like renewables.

The southern governors said they had resolved to aggressively embark on energy transition plan from fossil fuels (petrol and diesel) to cleaner energy and specifically CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) and ultimately EV’s (Electric Vehicles) to help reduce the cost of transportation, which would lower the cost of food, goods and services of the citizens and residents.

READ ALSO: Ogun Assembly seeks implementation of anti-open grazing law

The meeting also called on the federal government to rehabilitate, repair and reconstruct Trunk A roads and transfer some roads to states that had expressed interest in taking them over, applauding President Tinubu for conceptualizing and commencing the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, which cuts across eight states of the region.

The communique hinted that the governors had resolved to commission a regional multimodal transport master plan that would prioritise connectivity of rail, road, air and water transportation, to facilitate interstate, intra-regional movement of persons, goods and services and thereby enhancing the ease of doing business.

It further stated that Southern States Development Agenda, SSDA, would comprise of a team whose primary responsibility would be to outline a holistic plan to foster trade and investment, sustainable growth and development, economic  prosperity, social harmony and food security for the region would be set up.

The Development Agenda, the governors added, would work hand in glove with individual State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agencies, the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission, NIPC, and other  relevant MDA’s and multilateral agencies as necessary.

On issue of state police, the governors resolved to continue to advocate for the creation of state police against the backdrop of the success of the regional community based security outfits, which have been effective in intelligence gathering.

The governors, the communique further stated, resolved to remain united and committed to oneness of purpose, noting that the physical boundaries that divided the people of the south could not be compared to the strong bonds of enterprise, resilience and culture that they shared just as they had resolved to be deliberate and intentional about intra region trade, partnerships and investment facilitation and promotion which was agreed would require a structured and coordinated collaborative approach.

The members of the forum commended President Tinubu for the food palliative support to states and the laudable economic recovery reforms and policies through the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda pledging to support him in his unwavering resolve to reposition the country and build a greater future for all.

It would be recalled that at the end of the meeting, Prince Dapo Abiodun was chosen to provide the needed leadership as chairman of the forum, while Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of Anambra State was appointed as the vice chairman.

The communique concluded that quarterly meetings of the forum would be held and rotated among member states.

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In a statement by the Publicity Secretary, Mr. Wale Adedayo, the group said, “The official adoption of the Afenifere Anthem by the six governors of the South-West is a welcome development. The adoption signposts a movement towards the ideal of a united Yoruba Nation, which believes in the model that set the defunct Western Region apart as the most developed part of Nigeria.

“The anthem of a people is a solemn oath of unalloyed loyalty to the creed of their forebears. With this adoption, we are happy that the governors are slowly but surely moving towards what late Chief Obafemi Awolowo laid down for the development of the Yoruba Nation.

READ ALSO: Naira appreciates further by 0.67% against dollar at official market

“We expect that following the adoption of this anthem, the ideals of quality universal education for all Yorubas, access to quality healthcare services, facilitation of rural development and modern agricultural practices along with agro-allied development will follow. If this should happen, the entire South-West Region will be returning to the pre-1966 era, when we were first among equals in Africa.

“This development, i.e. pre-1966, saw the South-West as a Nation ahead of some European countries. We can do it. We can recreate that era once our governors show the political will to do so as they just did with this new anthem for our people. Oodua a gbe wa o!”

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Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa announced this on Saturday shortly after a closed door meeting held at the Government House, Bauchi.

The 13 PDP governors and bigwigs of the party were in Bauchi for a one-day retreat for the officials elected under its platform.

Fintiri also said that Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State had been elected vice chairman of the forum.

He said that Mohammed was elected based on his competence and capability to steer the forum to greater heights.

Responding, Mohammed promised to work with his colleagues for the development of the party and the nation.

“My emergence as the Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum is a mark of honour to me and the entire people of Bauchi State.

“I’m using this opportunity to call on all my colleagues to support me in order to move the forum and the party forward,” he said.

Source: NAN

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“We thank God Almighty for our electoral victory. It was tough and turbulent.

“The challenge before us is working in unison with the party leadership and the National Assembly over the election of their principal officers. And I charge you to unite in spirit and faith and work in line with the party,” he said.

The President-elect told the governors and former governorship candidates of the party that “whether you return or not, this is our government.

“Once we know what we are doing and communicating as elected leaders and loyal party men, we will conquer the challenge.”

He reiterated his earlier admonitions that, as leaders, they were elected to serve the people and humanity with fairness and justice.

Sounding emotional, he expressed gratitude to God that he, “the first Muslim minority from the South-West got the blessing of Allah to be elected president.”

Dismissing speculations about his health, the President-elect said “all speculation have perished and their purveyors brought to shame.”

The chairman of the Progressive Governors who is also the governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, led his colleagues to Tinubu’s residence.

Among those in attendance were Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima and Governors Simon Lalong (Plateau); Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna); Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina); Hope Uzodinnma (Imo); Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa); Babajide Sanwo-olu (Lagos); Ben Ayade (CrossRivers); Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq (Kwara); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti).

There were also the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Kelechi Igwe and APC governorship candidate in Kano State, Alhaji Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna.

Governor Bagudu said the visit was to congratulate Asíwájú Tinubu over the election, extend goodwill to him over the end of Ramadan fast and welcome him back from his recent travel and celebrate with him.

He also said, however, that the governors were ready for any assignment the President-elect might give them.

On the task with respect to the election of presiding officers of the National Assembly, he pledged that the governors would continue to discuss and work with the party and the lawmakers to arrive at the best decision in the interest of the country.

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According to Asiwaju Tinubu, the Governors especially the APC Governors who instituted the suit against the CBN and federal government at the Supreme Court acted well on behalf of the hapless Nigerians who have been made to bear the brunt of Naira redesign policy that has been poorly implemented.

Tinubu’s reaction is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director, Media and Publicity, All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, APC-PCC, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday morning in a law suit brought before it by the governments of Zamfara, Kogi and Kaduna States gave an interim injunction against the CBN and federal government, allowing the old N200, N500 and N1000 to remain legal tender beyond February 10 deadline until the case is fully disposed.

Following the apex court ruling, Asiwaju Tinubu noted that the governors had saved the country from  a needless political and economic crises and miseries which he said had clearly become the unintended consequences of the monetary policy of the apex bank.

Tinubu noted that the Supreme Court ruling coincided with the advisory of the International Monetary Fund urging for the extension of the deadline for the swap of the old naira notes, going by the problems being experienced across the country in getting the new notes.

“I want to salute the courage of our Governors and most especially the Progressives Governors in APC who acted to save our country from avoidable and dangerous political crises and social unrest which the Central Bank policy on new Naira notes has brought on our country.

“Our country was dangerously careering toward anarchy and political and economic shutdown.  But with the Supreme Court interim ruling, our country has been pulled back from the precipice. We thank our Supreme Court Justices for ruling wisely on the side of the people who have been subjected to undue agony and pains since this policy was announced.

“The federal government and relevant stakeholders can now sit down and work out better framework on how to proceed with the new policy without causing any social and economic disruption and inconvenience to our people. We have examples of other countries that have successfully and seamlessly changed their currencies to learn from.

“Those countries give a long time, at least 12 months to effect the currency change. They do not engage in CBN-like Fire Brigade approach.

“We have seen how a good policy can be poorly implemented to cause unintended problems for the people who should be the beneficiaries. While lessons have been learnt, we must now move on as a country and people with a Renewed Hope for a better tomorrow.

“The sole aim of my running to be the president of our country is to make life better and more abundant for our people and this is an ideal for which I will remain eternally committed to.”

Tinubu called on the CBN to ensure that the Supreme Court ruling is effectively executed by taking all necessary steps to (i) ensure sufficient availability of Naira notes (whether old or new) and (ii) properly sensitising the public on the ruling and the consequent validity of old Naira.

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Mr Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, Director, Media and Public Affairs, NGF, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the state of the economy ‪would dominate the conversation when the 36 governors meet at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

“Worried by the economic woes that the citizenry has been complaining about and the hardship associated with it, several governors reasoned that it is high time to tell each other the bare truth by confronting each other on the situation and brainstorming on it.

READ ALSO: PDP governors meet in Port Harcourt Monday, state agenda

“This formed the basis for resorting to an in-person meeting which since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic been relegated by the states’ executives.

“Two things will feature prominently in the conversation: the economy and security.”

He dismissed as spurious, recent media reports that the governors had collectively advised the president to compulsorily retire civil servants aged 50 and above.

According to him, the meeting will be the first to be held collectively by the governors on the nation’s economy in 2022.

Bello-Barkindo said that the governors would launch the Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge Fund and the World Bank SFTAS charter before going into the meeting, expected to commence by 2 p.m.

He added that the governors would receive update on the COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus programme during the meeting.

Source: NAN

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