Amaechi-led governors’ forum links insecurity to government’s inaction

Amaechi-led governors’ forum links insecurity to government’s inaction

• Seeks probe of FG’s alleged profligacy
AS political tension heightens and insecurity persists in the country, the Governor Chibuike Amaechi-led  Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has attributed the recent security breaches to complacency on the part of the Federal Government, even as it called on the National Assembly to look into other allegations of fiscal alteration and economic profligacy.
  Rising from a four-hour meeting yesterday in Abuja, the NGF, while expressing concern over the depleting allocation to states, said there is no proper documentation to show that the missing $49.8 billion was paid into the Federation Account.
  The Rivers State governor, who also chairs the faction of the NGF, read out the statement that, “the missing $49.8 billion (N8.5 trillion) or equivalent of two years of the national budget, there is no evidence that this amount was paid into the Federation Account or duly appropriated.
  “We accordingly call on the National Assembly to institute a comprehensive independent forensic audit by an international reputable firm. We fear that the recent decline of states revenue is not unconnected with the financial diversion,” he said.
  The statement further stated that the Federal Government has breached the constitution by not seeking advice from the states before presenting the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to the National Assembly and lack of compliance to the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.
  “Provisions of Section II of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 which requires the Federal Government to hold consultations with states on the MTEF and Fiscal Strategy Paper (2014-2016), did not hold. The National Economic Council meeting where issues of this nature would have been discussed last held four months ago.”
  They said: “The financial irregularities relating to public accounting, the lack of compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and the recent security breaches are not unconnected with the refusal of the Federal Government to convene meetings of statutory institutions created in the constitution such as the National Economic Council (NEC), the Council of States, the Nigeria Police Council…we urge a return to the path of constitutionalism”.
  While stating that it is disheartening the “violent attacks and killings that have taken place in Borno State, as well as the attack on the father of Kano State governor”, the NGF condemned the alleged shooting of Senator Magnus Abe, saying it is a “flagrant violation of the rights of citizens to freely assemble in Rivers State by the Nigeria Police, the excessive use of force against unarmed citizens in the exercise of their fundamental rights”.
  Sources within the NGF said the meeting was held to ensure that the Amaechi-led forum remains within the path of the NGF Constitution, which requires meetings of the forum to be held at least once a month.