Governors are to meet tomorrow to manage their states security votes with some agencies~ WDnews247. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commi...
Governors are to meet tomorrow to manage their states security votes with some agencies~ WDnews247.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission, or ICPC, will meet with the governors of the 36 states that make up the federation tomorrow to discuss how to handle their states' security votes.
Governors were contacted, but none of them responded to inquiries about the meeting's implications for their states last night.
Nonetheless, a number of the governors, particularly those of Osun and Benue, said that they supported any measure that would improve good governance in Nigerian states specifically and the country as a whole.
Tomorrow, April 4, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will also be present at the conference, which is being called by the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
The meeting will be held online, according to a statement made yesterday by AbdulRazaque Bello-Barkindo, Director, Media Affairs, Nigerian Governors' Forum, NGF.
The security vote, a monthly allotment given to state governments for increased security in their areas, has been a source of controversy in the nation, particularly because no accountability is provided with regard to spending.
The security vote, which is distributed to the 36 states for the express purpose of funding security services inside those states, is based on the degree of security in each state, according to Wikipedia.
"Governors of the 36 states of the federation are to meet with all of the country's economic and financial institutions to iron out difficult issues surrounding their states' security votes, in order to build a better choice for handling the funds," the statement said.
According to an invitation sent out by the Director General of the Nigeria Governors' Forum, Mr. Asishana Bayo Okauru, the meeting would be held virtually on Tuesday, April 4, to ensure that all pertinent personnel are present.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are among the organizations that have been invited to the conference.
To enhance the financial inclusion of all citizens in the subsequent scheme of things moving ahead, the summit will also discuss strengthening the management and expanding the cashless policy, which went into force at the time of the redesign of the national currency, the Nigerian Naira, last year. In a letter dated March 30 and addressed to the NGF chairman and signed by the NFIU Director, Modibbo Hamman Tukur, the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, or NFIU, requested that this meeting be arranged.
The letter stated that in addition to providing resources for national financial inclusion, it is also putting forth a plan for uniform nation-wide development and collaboration on the nation, addressing, and post code project, which will put Nigeria on par with all other developed nations in the world.
In order to address the FATF and EU grey listing in which Nigeria appears, a consensus on harmonizing and modernizing the national tax collection and business entrance norms is also on the table.
The meeting's contents were discussed at the NGF emergency meeting on Thursday, March 30, where it was unanimously decided that a meeting with the aforementioned agencies was essential. "All governors are advised to prioritize the meeting," the statement reads.
Remember that over the years, whatever Nigerians had heard about the actual amount appropriated to state governors in Nigeria as security votes had remained conjecture, despite the claims made by those in positions of power that security votes were enormous sums of money that governors had spent but were not able to account for.
Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun State, responded last night, saying he is not in any way threatened by the meeting through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.
The Osun State administration appreciates any action or choice that will support the delivery of good governance through the application of the law and due process.
"The development poses no threat to us in any manner. Ademola Adeleke, the governor, has made sure that state funds are handled transparently and openly in the short time he has been in office.
Hence, the governor and the state government have no reason to be concerned about holding a meeting to discuss security votes.
As you are aware, Osun State is in an unusual situation due to its high level of debt, and the state is already managing its limited resources on a shoestring budget.
Samuel Ortom, the governor of Benue State, also praised the gathering and expressed hope that it will dispel misunderstandings about security votes.
He claimed that despite the fact that the NGF Director General had not sent him an invitation to the meeting, he had no reservations about it.
The governor claimed that he had not received any invitations to the meeting from the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors' Forum.
According to his media aide Nathaniel Ikyur, "but if such a meeting is going to hold, he has no issues with it because there have been a lot of misconceptions on the topic of security vote."
The governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, said: "Because it is a collective decision, it would be best to speak to NGF Secretariat and the body will be in the perfect position to remark or react to the concerns" through his chief press secretary, Yinka Oyebode.
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun stated he had no briefing, speaking through his chief press secretary Kunle Somorin.
The governor responded, "I wasn't briefed on this.
Attempts to reach Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State's main press secretary, Richard Olatunde, were unsuccessful.
But, a senior government official who spoke anonymously to Vanguard questioned why governors would be reluctant to attend a meeting with anti-graft organizations.
"Why is attending a meeting with these government organizations dangerous? Even if I'm not speaking for my governor, I do know that Akeredolu, who has no hidden sins, may attend any meeting without fear. He has made sure that government finances are handled transparently.
The governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, could not be reached, and his chief press secretary, Christian Aburime, declined to offer a view. This is a security issue, and the governor is not available. In any case, one does not dabble in it.
"Let them do their meeting and then deliver their statement. After their meeting, the EFCC ought to be able to issue a release. I'm at a loss for words at the moment, though.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos State, remained silent last night while Gbenga Omotosho, his commissioner for information and strategy, declined to answer or return calls made to his mobile phone.
Also, he did not reply to a text message sent to his phone.
The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Ini Ememobong, merely stated that he was unable to respond to the inquiry and would prefer not to provide misleading information.
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