The Nigeria Governors’ Forum is to hold its 14th teleconference today (Wednesday) with the worsening security in the country situation taking the centre stage. This was announced by the Secretariat to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, in Abuja, on Tuesday.
The Chairman of the NGF, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who is also the Governor of Ekiti State, had in a previous statement on Monday, expressed the forum’s concern about the worsening security situation in the country.
In a separate statement titled, ‘14th NGF Teleconference,’ signed by the Head, Media and Public Affairs of the NGF, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, on Tuesday, the forum said it would hold an online meeting today (Wednesday) to discuss the issue.
Bello-Barkindo said, “The rapidly degenerating security situation in the country will feature very prominently when governors meet tomorrow for their 14th NGF teleconference meeting, according to the invitation sent out to governors by the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr Asishana Bayo Okauru.
“Not unexpectedly, in line with the security and policing swamp that the country has found itself, the attack on Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, will be tabled for discussion just as the state governors will also preview a webinar which comes up on the August 11, driven through a partnership of the Nigeria Governors Forum and the Centre for Value in Leadership, CVL, led by Prof. Pat Utomi.”
Bello-Barkindo explained that one of such webinars took place last month where the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, x-rayed insecurity and the challenges of governance and leadership in the “new normal,” as it affected his state.
According to the statement, Wednesday’s meeting will commence at 2pm prompt but the virtual platform will be open an hour earlier.
Also on the agenda will be the thorny issue of the yet-to-be-accessed funds at UBEC as well as a review the resumption of schools and its roll-out plan.
By John Alechenu,
The Punch