The North East Governors’ Forum (NEGF), has demanded for a review of 2021 national budget to execute various projects in region for equity and inclusion.
According to the six Governors, activities of Boko Haram, bandits, cattle rustlers and kidnappers still constitute threats to sustainable development and economic growth.
The forum, which comprises Governors of Borno, Adamawa, Gombe, Taraba, Bauchi and Yobe states; made the call at its third meeting at weekend in Yola, Adamawa state.
NEGF’s Chairman, Governor Babagana Zulum lamented that; “Despite the challenges of development, particularly infrastructural deficits in northeast, the 2021 proposed national budget makes a budgetary provision of only N45.32 billion for capital projects.
He noted that this represents 0.35% of N13.02 trillion presented national budget to National Assembly.
While the Forum commends the effort of the security agencies in the sub-region, it agreed to strengthen community policing and action to complement their efforts.
He also mandated the Northeast caucus of both the Senate and House of Representative to take immediate steps to redress this imbalance.
The forum also noted that the sub-region has been unfairly treated in the provision of roads infrastructure by Federal Ministry of Works & Housing.
Zulum continued; “We’re also dismayed with the slow or outright non-existent progress on the pace of the roads already allocated in the sub region,” urging the Federal Government for the immediate reactivation and review of the comatose existing road contracts in northeast.
The forum was also dismayed with lack of budgetary provision for the Mambilla Hydro Project in the 2021 budgetary proposals.
In the 13-point demands of forum, Zulum called on the Federal Government to consider the power project a matter of serious priority,
He said that President Muhammadu Buhari should resolve all encumbrances pertaining the hydro project and order action on site.
On challenges of education, he said: “The six Governors have resolved to adopt a regional approach with deliberate transformation of education sector, particularly at the basic level across the sub-region.
“We also agreed to form the Northern Council of Education (NOCE),” he said, adding that the Governors are to enforce the UBEC Law to protect and ensure all children have access to basic education.
Speaking on sub-region’s Strategic Master Plan, he said: “While working on the master plan, it ensures projects are demand-driven to create more impact and accountability to the people.”
He however frowned at a situation where projects are imposed on the states without due consultation with stakeholders.
The forum also called on the Governors to domesticate the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015.
He lamented that gender-based violence (GBV) is still a major nuisance in all the six-member states of forum.
He assured that the domestication of Act, will ensure rapid dispensation of justice on GBV.
He said that besides, domestication of Act, there is the need for sub region’s integration on significantly cross-cutting issues that could be beneficial to member states.
“The State Governors of forum, should appoint their Special Advisers on regional integration on economic development and growth,” he said.
On N2.3 trillion post coronavirus (COVID-19) economic stimulus package, he said: “We solicit the Federal Government to equitable and fair treatment in view of economic and social challenges in insurgency affected states in Northeast.
“We also resolved to engage the Arewa Research and Development Project (ARDP), to provide technical support in key areas of development.
According to him, the areas of development in northeast, are in Agriculture and Education.
The Forum resolved to pursue vigorously the issue of securing admissions for candidates into Nigerian tertiary institutions to fill its quota.
While announcing forum’s next roundtable meeting, Zulum said that Bauchi state will host the five governors on March 4, 2020.
