Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-IwealaThe Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, led by the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, rose from its meeting on Tuesday night and demanded the resignation of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, if she could not comply strictly with the 2013 Appropriation Act.
The Forum also canvassed the immediate disbanding of the Economic Management Team.
The meeting, which held at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, was attended by Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara) and Mr Amaechi (Rivers).
Deputy governors of Borno, Edo and Nasarawa States represented their bosses.
No member of the faction headed by the Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang attended the meeting, despite their invitation.
The Forum contended that the refusal to comply with the revenue projections of the Federal Government was a breach of the Appropriation Act.
“Members expressed concern in the management of the economy by the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy and called for a strict adherence to the Appropriation Act, 2013, failing which she should resign,” Mr Amaechi, who read the communiqué after the meeting, said.
“Forum observed that the National Economic Council is constitutionally responsible for the management of the economy and should be used for that purpose as opposed to the Economic Management Team constituted by the Presidency.”
The Forum requested the National Assembly to separate the office of the Accountant General of the Federation from that of the Accountant-General of the Federal Government in order to ensure accountability and efficient management of the economy.
It also expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the war against polio in the last one year. However, it urged state governors in the country to continue with the war in order to eradicate the disease completely.
The Forum also condoled with one of its members, Mr. Fashola over the loss of his father just as it expressed condolence to the family of Olusegun Agagu, former Governor of Ondo State, who died last Friday in Lagos.
It also condoled with the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, who lost her mother in a motor accident in Bayelsa State recently.
The Forum also disclosed that it would hold a retreat for its members in November, although the venue of the event was not disclosed.
The notice of meeting sent to the governors for the meeting showed that money by the Federation Account Allocation Committee topped the agenda at the meeting.
Also on the agenda was the Excess Crude Account, which had been a major disagreement between the governors and the Federal Government.
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