**shedule meeting with him today

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

ABUJA – There seems to be no limit at which the 36 Governors of Nigerian States would go to have more funds in their coffers. Recall that at the beginning of the present administration in May, 2015, most of the governors were given funds otherwise called bail out funds from the federal treasury to enable them pay salaries and meet other exigencies in their respective States.

Only last week, the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun announced that the federal government has graciously suspended deductions periodically made from various loans given to the states to enable them pay workers salaries and stability their respective economies. But those measures appear not to be sufficient as the governors are now asking for the sharing of $2.3 billion being Nigeria’s proceeds in the Excess Crude Account, ECA. Should this happen, Nigerians may be witnessing a repeat of a scenario that played out in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s regime where Governors shared $2billion from the $6.5 billion the government inherited from the late Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration.

It will be recalled that the former minister of finance, Dr. Okonjo Iweala recently said that the sharing of the funds was the dilemma of Jonathan’s government as the government lacked the political will to save for the rainy day, a situation that has plunged Nigeria into deep economic and financial quagmire. Arising from a meeting Wednesday night at the Old Banquet Hall within the precinct of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, which would be the send meeting in one week, the governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, said that the economic crises in the States were no longer bearable.

Speaking to State House Correspondents after the meeting that ended about midnight, the Chairman of the Forum and Zamfara State Governor, Mr. Abdulaziz Yari said that the Governors did not have any open options than to seek a short term solution to the problem. He said that the governors would be meeting with President Mohammadu Buhari on Thursday over the matter. “The meeting was about the economy. You know we are in a very bad situation and we need to come together and discuss intensively about this economy because it is what is now giving the states headache and by extension the Federal Government.

“If you look carefully at this month’s federation account, It is the worst ever in the last six years. So, definitely we had to come to a round table. We were elected under different party platforms to perform, not just to pay salaries and it is worse off not to be able to pay salaries. So, the issue is very, very serious that we are coming back to discuss it and if we have the opportunity we will come back to see our leader, Mr President. Pressed to answer question on federal government bail-out plans, the governor said the issue was not listed for deliberations.

“We are not looking at that rather we are looking at a permanent solutions to the problems that we are in now.” Also asked if diversification meant anything to him, he said: “Yes, we are discussing diversification but you should understand that it is a long term programme. We are looking for a short term formula for you to live at least survive before the long term.

So on diversification we are looking on agriculture, which is supposed to be the major focus long time ago but has been neglected by the past administrations. “Now that we found ourselves in this situation, we are working harder to diversify the economy and to look forward to a more permanent solution in case oil goes out of existence but at the same time we have to look for a short term solution.” Also speaking on the matter, Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose said that the meeting reached some salient agreements.

“Well, the meeting was all about finding a lasting solution and deliberations went well. I am comfortable with the meeting. Everybody is concerned about the dwindling economy and we must as leaders of this country come together to find solution and I agree with all the positions. Why wouldn’t governors save? “Well, that is subjective every leader at one time or the other must have done their best within the ambit of availability of resources. So, for me every former President, every former leader had made their contribution and I commend them. The new people with saddled with leadership must continue to give their best.

A mistake by past leaders?

“You see you have issues with recession. Before now, recession was in America and the west. Now we have recession facing us. What we depend on as source of our revenue is dwindling its not the making of any man,its another trend in our history that we have to deal with and we are doing just that. How creative governors are to deal with the situation? “We will do our best. We can only try our best. We have time and tenure”, Fayose said. Similarly, Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State also said that factors such as environment affected most policies of the government.

He said: “Let me say it this way: there is no one single meeting that can find a solution to all the world economic issues. You convene and reconvene. No human being can know it all at a particular point in time. You see the economic issues we have now is not only pertaining to Nigeria, it’s a global issue. So, you can’t just at one meeting of about 2hours fashion out entire solution for the country. We trouble shoot some points. We discuss those points and we have to weigh the impact of those points both the positive negative, the extreme,the mid-point.

“And you know once you are bringing out certain policies, you also need to align those policies with the social cultural environment that you are operating in. What may work in this part of the world may not work in other parts even though it is a good policy. So realign and readjust and connect these things together and bring out something that can work is not something a two hour meeting can achieve.”

: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/states-economy-govs-move-persuade-buhari-share-excess-crude-account-funds/

Nigerian Governors and government officials are the most wicked and most heartless people on this planet

Hehehehehehehehehehe

This is the same thing they did during Jonathan's time, Amaechi who was the then chairman of the governors' forum led other governors, and they even sued the FG because of this issue.

Later some brain washed zombies will say "Jonathan and Ngozi didn't save for rainy days", Can you all now see what we've been talking about?.

This is not Jonathan, what have you been doing with the bailout fund?

Mtchew, Most of them will lavish it on hiring of private jet.

yemaldo:
This is not Jonathan, what have you been doing with the bailout fund?

Yes, It ain't Jona. It's Buhari. The dullard has no choice than to yield. They will soon go to court again.

At such perilous times, these governors still want to deplete the little we have left. But, on the other side, if they are not allowed access to the ECA, it's we the masses that will suffer it. And that, will in effect recoil on the Presidency. A catch22 with no way out for the Executive. Mr President, should just give them their share, so we can have our salaries

maupe:
At such perilous times, these governors still want to deplete the little we have left. But, on the other side, if they are not allowed access to the ECA, it's we the masses that will suffer it. And that, will in effect recoil on the Presidency. A catch22 with no way out for the Executive. Mr President, should just give them their share, so we can have our salaries

Rubbish. Let us suffer. If refusing the governors is all Buhari does in his four years in office, then I will call him a success

Mr President Please don't give Rochas Imo State share of the ECA, he'll still use it to travel around Nigeria to attend irrelevant weddings without paying Imo workers...

Give us our share after May 29,2019.. Surely a more credible Senator Samuel Anyanwu as our governor will surely use it to pay Imo state workers....


Buhari Plssssssss

I thought they said the meeting was inconclusive. I knew they were hiding something. Useless people in government.

Which ECA funds? The one they said was stolen by NOI ?

From $22 billion, Jonathan squandered all the saving made my Obasanjo.
The worst of all is that he completely destroyed the fiscal stability of the country.

oduastates:
From $22 billion, Jonathan squandered all the saving made my Obasanjo.
The worst of all is that he completely destroyed the fiscal stability of the country.

Focus on the issue at hand,or get out of this thread

iflywithbuhari:
Focus on the issue at hand,or get out of this thread

Truth is bitter

iflywithbuhari:

Focus on the issue at hand,or get out of this thread

The matter at hand is that it is a rainy day fund. It is raining right now.
By the way, I am from the Bola Tinubu school of thought who opposed this account from the start.
Only fools save money underneath the mattress while their homes burn.
Obasanjo should have invested the money into Nigeria.
Uninterrupted Power, roads, trains, modern agriculture and aggressive trade policy would have been enough to move us away from a petrol state.
Lagos, ogun and oyo invested a lot and that is why they are providing the bulk of federal income today

iflywithbuhari:
Nigerian Governors and government officials are the most wicked and most heartless people on this planet

it's not wickedness but clueless on d enterpreneural way to create wealth, including buhari. Don't forget they need money to maintain d workforce. Would u rather they starve to death? Dat's d only thing they can see abt money generatn.

ArmedRobber:

Truth is bitter

Lies are sweet.
APC knows this, That is why they always tell it to their zombie followers.

One of the main critics of the President, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State is absent. The meeting is also being attended by Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo; Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; and the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele. It is expected to discuss the economic crisis facing the country and the herdsmen attacks in parts of the country among other national issues.

www.punchng.com/buhari-govs-meet-economic-crisis-others/

Wahala dey! On dis d govs are alwaz united as nobody recognises his party platform.

iflywithbuhari:
Strong man Fayose is absent, and has refused to partake in this crime against the people

Because of fayose alone, buhari will say No.

SeverusSnape:

Yes, It ain't Jona. It's Buhari. The dullard has no choice than to yield. They will soon go to court again.

dude doesn't even knw dat d constitutn favors d govs on d sharing.

Strong man Fayose is not at the meeting. Fayose, the lion of Ekiti, and the true son of the soil, will not partake in this madness

SeverusSnape:

Lies are sweet.

APC knows this, That is why they always tell it to their zombie followers.

Take this bitter pill and squeeze ur ugly face

www.nairaland.com/1985177/external-reserve-debt-under-obasanjo

Strong man Fayose is absent, and has refused to partake in this crime against the people

Dem don start again, later d governors will deny they didnt share any money.

ArmedRobber:

Take this bitter pill and squeeze ur ugly face
www.nairaland.com/1985177/external-reserve-debt-under-obasanjo

Zombies need this more, not a wailer like me. La click, La Bend.

I trust Buhari.

Let's see if Buhari has the political will to say no.

iflywithbuhari:

Rubbish. Let us suffer. If refusing the governors is all Buhari does in his four years in office, then I will call him a success

There they go again... Even if he presents a Nepa bill as certificate, we will still vote for him. Mediocrity is the bane of Nigerian citizens.

Nigerians should march on Aso Rock and support the President. The governors must not be allowed to have their way. They will waste and embezzle the money, leaving nothing to show for it. Where is OCCUPYNASS, where is Oby Ezekwesili, where is Falana, where is OCCUPYNIGERIA, where is NLC, where is TUC. If the President, concedes to the governors demands, then we are finished

SamuelAnyawu:
Mr President Please don't give Rochas Imo State share of the ECA, he'll still use it to travel around Nigeria to attend irrelevant weddings without paying Imo workers...

Give us our share after May 29,2019.. Surely a more credible Senator Samuel Anyanwu as our governor will surely use it to pay Imo state workers....


Buhari Plssssssss

Ok. But Sam Daddy should continue in the Senate by 2019 to learn the ropes more. He will possibly be senate president if Hope Uzodinma and co permit. For now, Nda Emma ga chi anyi.

Buhari Is a weakling like Jonathan. .. He will share it... He has shown weakness in ds areas
1. CBN recruitment
2. Fuel subsidy
3. Fulani herdsmen etc....

He has a penchant for weakness in governance. .. who wan bet say im no go share am??