BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), that has been foot dragging in signing the Memorandum of Action for the granting of financial autonomy to the State Judiciary and the State Houses of Assembly, has finally agreed to deliberate and agree on the resolutions reached with members of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) at its meetings on Wednesday.
Staff of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) are expected to resume work tomorrow, Tuesday after the democracy day holiday just as the 31st NGF meeting will hold virtually, on Wednesday, June 16, 2021.
A statement by the spokesman of the NGF, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo explained that efforts are already under way in all states of the federation, to either constitute the States Accounts Allocation Committees (SAAC) or to inaugurate them, preparatory to the granting of full autonomy to the two arms of government, namely, the legislature and the judiciary at the subnational level.
JUSUN and PASAN have been on a nationwide strike for more than two months, while governors of the 36 states worked to establish modalities for their autonomy in conformity with the constitutional provisions that stipulated thus.
The statement however stated that the Governors’ meeting will be briefed before deliberating on the Memorandum of Action (MoA) of this main item on the agenda.
A perusal on the invitation to all the 36 Governors issued by the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, Mr Asishana Bayo Okauru, indicated that the governors will be updated on the activities of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid 19, a regular feature of the governors’ meetings, by the Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, who heads the governors’ interface with the PTF.
The NGF meeting is also expected to review the agenda of the National Economic Council (NEC) which will take place on Thursday.
Bello-Barkindo said that other items on the agenda of the NGF meeting include the regular update on the States’ Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability for results SFTAS to provide states’ status on their DLI’s and upcoming deadlines.
The meeting will also receive two presentations namely; the Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, who will make a presentation regarding Unlocking Liquidity through Sale/Optimization of State-owned Redundant/Sub-Optimal Assets while Policy Development Facility (PDF) Bridge Programme will discuss Diversification and Non-oil Export Opportunities for States Post-Covid-19.
The meeting is scheduled to commence at 2pm while the governors are expected to start logging in from 1pm.
