Governors of the 36 states of the federation, are to direct their Commissioners of Finance to sign the World Bank’s State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Subsidiary Grant Agreements with the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to give effect to the principles and objectives of the program in the States.
The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Thursday said the directives were part of resolutions reached at its 21st Teleconference meeting held virtually to deliberated on issues affecting the country, particularly on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the fallouts of the ENDSARS protests.
In a communiqué made available to newsmen after the meeting Governor Kayode Fayemi Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, blamed the recent wave of restiveness on social and economic inequality, adding that NGF also resoled to educate the citizenry about the various palliatives provided by the States including cash transfers, food items, medical supplies, and tax incentives given to individual taxpayers and businesses.
“Members of the Forum Resolved to:
Engage with traditional, religious and civil society organisations to drive a common agenda and
generate the required support for security personnel who play a vital role in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all Nigerians;
“Adapt at both the State and Regional levels Guidelines to be developed and issued by the NEC Sub-Committee on Engagement to reduce restiveness among young people as it is clear that these agitations are attributable to social and economic inequality in the country;
“Commend CACOVID for presenting the true situation of what transpired in the light of the unfortunate misperception that attended the distribution of palliatives at the State level resolving that the NGF Chair should work with the CACOVID Chairperson to address the media in addition to members speaking up in their local settings.
“Educate the citizenry about the various palliatives provided by the States including cash transfers, food items, medical supplies, and tax incentives given to individual taxpayers and businesses.
“Finally, Governors are to direct their Commissioners of Finance to sign the SFTAS Subsidiary Grant Agreements with the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to give effect to the principles and objectives of the program in their States” he added.
Earlier, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the Governor of Edo State, provided an update on the status of the World Bank’s State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme.
He disclosed that the assessment of States’ amended budgets published at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has been completed while the verification exercise for the implementation of tax relief programmes in all States is underway.
By Chidi Ugwu,
Independent Newspaper