The Federal Government has agreed to stop deductions from State Governments’ accounts “to meet Local Government Councils London/Paris Club obligations.”
The outgoing Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, disclosed this while briefing members at the forum’s meeting held on Tuesday.
A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting said the NGF has also picked Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, as its new Chairman, and Oyo State’s Governor, Seyi Makinde, as Vice Chairman.
The communiqué reads: “Members were briefed by the Chairman of the forum that the Hon. Minister of Finance has granted the request of the forum to immediately stop further deductions from the accounts of States to meet Local Government Councils London Paris Club obligations and the monies so far deducted be paid back to the States.
“On the leadership of the forum, the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, emerged as the new Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum through a consensus, and the Governor of Oyo State Seyi Makinde is now the Vice-Chairman.
“Members expressed satisfaction with the success of the just concluded Induction for new and returning Governors that took place between 14 and 19 of May 2023. Members committed to sustained collaboration among the states through enhanced peer review, learning at the sub-national level and deepening the relationship with the Federal Government and other institutions.”