Underdevelopment: North-East Governors Chide FG For Neglect

BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – The Forum of North-East Governors have expressed dismay over what they described as “glaring neglect” by the Federal Government thereby leaving the sub-region underdeveloped.

The governors noted that despite the challenges of development, especially infrastructural deficit in the subregion, the 2021 proposed Federal Government budget makes provision for only N45.32Billion for Capital projects for the entire sub-region representing a paltry 0.35% of the proposed N13.02 trillion.

A communique issued at the end of their regular meeting held in Yola, Adamawa state on Thursday, the governors noted that going by indices of development, it is clear that the Northeast is highly short-changed and therefore demanded a review of the 2021 budget in the spirit of equity and inclusion by the National Assembly.

The governors also noted with dismay, the lack of budgetary provision in respect of the Mambilla Hydro Project in the 2021 budgetary proposals and called on the Federal Government to make the project a matter of serious priority, resolve all encumbrances around the project and order action on site.

The Forum mandated the Northeast caucuses of both the Senate and House of Representatives to as a matter of necessity take immediate steps to redress the imbalance in the budgetary allocation, saying that is the reason of their election.

The Forum further observed that, the Sub-region has been unfairly treated in the provision of roads infrastructure by the Federal Ministry of Works & Housing and further noted with dismay, the slow or outright non-existent progress on the pace of the roads already allocated in the sub-region.

It therefore called for the immediate reactivation and review of the comatose existing road contracts in the sub-region.

The forum also noted that, there is relative improvement in the security situation in the sub-region, but stated that the activities of Boko Haram, bandits, cattle rustlers and kidnappers are still constituting a threat to sustainable development.

While commending the efforts of the security agencies in the sub-region towards tackling criminal activities, the Forum agreed to strengthen community policing and action to complement their efforts.

It said that it has critically examined the challenges of education in the sub-region and resolved to adopt a regional approach by being deliberate on transforming education, especially at the basic level as well as agreed to form the Northeast Council on Education.

The Northeast Governors reaffirmed the commitment of member states within the Sub-region to enforce the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Law to protect and ensure all children have an opportunity to acquire basic education.

The Forum then called on the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to expedite action on the development of the North-East strategic master plan for effective development of the sub-region.

It advised that while working on the plan, it should ensure that, projects are demand – driven to ensure impact and accountability and however, frowns passionately at a situation where projects are imposed on the states without due consultation.

The forum’s meeting further noted that, Gender based violence is still a major nuisance in the sub-region and called on all the Governors of the zone to domesticate the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015 and ensure the rapid dispensation of justice on gender-based violence.

The communique stressed the need for sub-regional integration on significantly cross-cutting issues that could mutually be beneficial to States within the region and agreed on the need for the State Governors within the region to appoint Special Advisers on Regional Integration.

The Forum critically examined the status of the post- COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Package of N2.3 Trillion and solicited for equitable and fair treatment especially in view of the economic and social challenges facing the sub-region.

It resolved to engage Arewa Research and Development Projects (ARDP), to provide technical support in key areas of development such as Agriculture and Education and also resolved to pursue vigorously the issue of securing admission for its candidates in Nigerian tertiary institutions to fill its quota.