By CALLISTUS OFFOR, Abuja –
The 36 state governors under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) would be meeting tomorrow, August 18, 2021, with the National Poverty reduction and growth strategy topping the agenda for discourse.
The Governors who will be holding the 33th NGF teleconference meeting, would also be brainstorming on the second phase of the Covid 19 vaccination as well as the on-going strike by the Nigeria Association of resident Doctors, NARD, and the campaign for building a new mindset for a united Nigeria.
This is contained in the invitation sent to Governors on Tuesday by the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Mr Asishana Bayo Okauru.
Mr. Okauru noted that the meeting which promises to be very heavy on solving critical national questions will also dwell on states’ participation in Nigeria Electrification Project and Solar Power Naija, in a presentation by the nation’s Rural Electrification Agency.
The Nigerian Security Minting and Printing Company will also address the Forum on how to leverage Modern Security Document Solutions
The Campaign on Building a New Mindset for a United Nigeria will be anchored by Ambassadors of Voice for Change led by Bala Ahmed & Zack Orji
Other items on the agenda according to Mr Okauru include an update on the refund of WHT and Stamp Duties, the Nigerian Postal Service Bill, 2021 & Collection of Stamp Duties, and the recently signed Petroleum Industry Bill where the governors are expected to identify next steps among other issues.
The health update by the NGF Health Advisor, Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab will be embroidered by another update on the 2nd Phase of Covid-19 Vaccination by Dr. Faisal Shuaib, while the Gov. Okowa Committee of the NGF will brief governors on its appraisal of the PTF thus far.
The NGF Chairman, Dr John Kayode Fayemi’s Keynote address to the Association for General & Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMN) where he enjoined Dr to honour they Hippocratic oaths by seeking other means of pushing their demands and avoid resorting to strikes, will round up the health section of the deliberations.
A regular subject of all the meetings, which usually precedes NEC will be a review of the NEC Agenda of the next day, while governors are also expected to condole their colleague Gov Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who lost his father a few days back.
At the meeting, Governors will also aggregate their views and issue a response to the Water resources minister on the Water Resources Bill.
In all these, the highlight of the day’s meeting will be the formal presentation of the Draft NGF Strategic Plan (2021 – 2024) by the Forum’s Director General Mr Asishana Bayo Okauru. The presentation is to seek the active participation of the Governors to take ownership of the Plan and solicit their buy-in in implementing the 6 strategic objectives for the next 4yrs (2021 – 2024).
Understandably, the NGF has moved up to assume the position of a go-to secretariat where the 36 states find solutions to their problems. The NGF Secretariat would therefore in the foregoing assist States to better manage their economies; ensure the convergence of efforts towards tackling insecurity; enhance NGF’s communication with the Nigerian public and other stakeholders among other important governance interventions.
The Director General would also appeal to the Governors to optimize Development Partners’ relations while improving their links and use of the vast opportunities that development partners bring in line with FGN’s programmes.
Mr Okauru is also expected to remind governors not to forget that the NGF remains the anchor for the States Peer Review Mechanism SPRM, a tool for peer learning, reflection and sharing of experiences on sub-national issues; and to not jettison such an important governance effort of the NGF.
This would according to Mr Okauru and his team strengthen the NGF Secretariat to do more as a Policy Hub and a resource centre on matters of sub-national governance.
Finally, the meeting will also feature the SFTAS Update and a few more presentations before it closes. The governors are expected to start logging in at 1300hrs.
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