Governor Kayode Fayemi said State Government, through their Ministries of Finance, will utilize technical assistance available within the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) Secretariat, to publish their approved amended 2020 COVID-19-responsive budgets by 31st July 2020.
He added that State Governments will maintain the implementation of a tax compliance relief programme for individual taxpayers and business to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
He said: “They will equally issue emergency procurement guidelines; and also adopt procedures to facilitate the participation of small and medium scale enterprises in State procurement by 30th September 2020.” Fayemi, who is the Governor of Ekiti State, revealed this at the end of the “13th Teleconference Meeting of the NGF.”
The Governors, deliberated on issues affecting the country, especially the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, at the virtual meeting held on Wednesday. According to Gov. Fayemi, Chairman of NGF, members of the Forum have resolved to strengthen the risk communication pillar of the State COVID-19 Task Teams, as proposed by the PTF National Coordinator.
He assured that they will also strive to foster stronger collaboration with the National Orientation Agency, State Orientation Agencies, religious and traditional institutions, as well as civil societies. “They will also step-up the current efforts by taking key health and safety measures to the doorsteps of Nigerians in all 774 local governments areas in the country.
“In the light of the proposed partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the ABP, an official MoU signing will be held on Tuesday, 28th June 2020. The initiative will be followed by the establishment of a joint project team, engagement with stakeholders and launch during the 2020 dry season farming,” he stated.
By Mahmud Abdulsalam,
News Digest