NGF vows to defend democracy and condemns the alleged plot for an interim administration

The governors pledged to use every available means to protect the nation’s democracy.

The suspected scheme to establish an interim administration in place of the freshly elected executives who are scheduled to be sworn in on May 29th has been strongly denounced by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

The forum’s chair, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, said in a statement that the governors would do all in their power to protect the nation’s democracy and that they will not accept any illegitimate regime changes.

The governors also denounced the ongoing holdup in refunding the backlog of stamp duty revenues to the states, promising to exhaust all legal options in order to obtain the reimbursements to the states.

A planned induction of the newly elected governors and their wives that is set to take place between May 14 and May 19 this year was one of the topics covered by the conference.

Below is the complete statement that the forum issued.

ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 4TH MEETING OF THE NIGERIA GOVERNORS’ FORUM (NGF) HELD ON THURSDAY, 29TH MARCH 2023
We, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at our emergency meeting today discussed critical issues of national interest and resolved as follows:

1. First, we congratulate members who were re-elected for a 2nd term in office. While we acknowledge that the election was not perfect, we will take advantage of the learning points to strengthen our democracy and electoral processes.

2. Regarding the refund of backlog of Stamp Duties due to State Governments, the Forum restated its commitment to engaging with all stakeholders and exploring all legal channels available to it in ensuring that monies which ought to have since been used for development projects are duly refunded to the States.

3. The Forum is set to conduct its flagship induction programme for its newly elected and re- elected governors. This event, which will bring together newly elected, re-elected, past governors, national and international leaders, captains of industries and development partners, is scheduled to hold from 14th -17th May 2023, is designed to build the capacity of Governors to establish, organize, manage, and set agenda/priorities using best practices whilst leveraging the tools of their trade – people, processes, programmes and public opinion – for greater and more effective governance.

4. The second part of the Induction programme will hold from 17th -19th May, 2023 and will focus on the Governors’ Spouses Summit designed to strategize on how the activities of the Governors’ spouses can best complement the roles of the Governors in promoting good governance at the sub-national level and help the spouses better understand the processes of transitioning to their new roles as first ladies.

5. The Forum deliberated extensively on the alleged plot by some unscrupulous elements to install an interim government, as contained in the recent statement issued by the Department for State Services (DSS). Governors condemned in the strongest terms, any unconstitutional means of regime change and pledged its commitment to continue to defend Nigeria’s democracy as elected leaders.

6. In addition, the Forum believes that issuing statements without arrests is akin to heating up the polity and causing unwarranted tension in the country. It called on the DSS to do its job by immediately arresting and prosecuting all those involved in the plot as a matter of urgency.

7. On the Implementation of the National Development Plan (2021-2025), the Forum nominated six (6) Governors to represent the six geopolitical zones of the country in the National Steering Committee: North Central – Governor of Kwara State, North East – Governor of Bauchi State, North West – Governor of Zamfara State,

South South – Governor of Edo State, South East – Governor of Anambra State and South West – Governor of Ekiti State

8. Finally, the Forum received a briefing on the cancellation of the proposed privatization of Five (5) National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs) by National Council on Privatization (NCP) and the withdrawal of the matter at the Federal High Court between the 36 States of the Federation Vs the Federal Government of Nigeria which was instituted to halt the process to enable stakeholders address the concerns by States and Local Governments who collectively own a joint stake of 53% in the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC). Members applauded this move by the NCP which appears to have taken into consideration the recommendation of the States to halt the process due to ill-timing amongst other reasons.

Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum 29th March 2023
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