December 17, 2021

The 36 Nigerian governors have pledged to settle all outstanding pension obligations, through Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which would be included as part of the social compact with citizens for the removal of fuel subsidies.

“With respect to the required legal and institutional changes required to facilitate a successful CPS transition in all States, State Commissioners of Finance will be mandated to ensure that States meet the guidelines for the implementation of CPS by state governments.

“This include the enactment of a pension law, the establishment of a pension board and the adoption of a transition framework for each state.”

The governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) disclosed this in a communique issued in Abuja and signed by its Chairman and Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti at the end of a teleconference.

The Governors also said they would review the proposed privatisation of the 10 generating plants across the country under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs), by the Federal Government.

The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) in June 2019 said it will privatise the remaining 10 Nigerian National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP), as part of efforts by the Federal Government to boost power supply for Nigeria’s industrial expansion vision.

Also slated for privatisation is the Nigerian Government-owned Satellite Communications company, NigComSat, to make it more competitive.

Already, a committee to prepare the NIPPs’ privatisation transaction has been put in place with the target of the completion of the task billed for this year.

The governors made the resolution after receiving a detailed presentation by the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr Alex Okoh.

“The governors resolved to review and communicate through their board representatives, their assessment and position on the privatisation  of what they consider critical national assets.

“States currently own a total of 53 per cent equity in NIPPs while the Federal Government owns a 47 per cent stake,” the forum stated.

The governors also resolved to set up a committee to “scrutinise” the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSRA) Bill 2021, which has passed its second reading at the Senate.

This according to the governors followed a presentation by the Chief Executive of New Hampshire Capital Limited, Mr Odion Omonfoman, on the implications the new bill has for state governments.

“The Forum thereafter set up a Committee comprising the Governors of Edo and Lagos State to scrutinize the new Bill.

“The committee is to advice the Forum on a position that will ensure that the Bill, when signed, will be a tool to strengthen the course of policy direction, design and implementation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), and address critical issues in the country’s power sector.”

The forum also disclosed that the governors at the meeting resolved to set up state polio transition committees to be chaired by each State Commissioner of Health, “to adapt and facilitate the implementation of the transition plan for their respective states.”

They said that priority would be given for the control of Cholera, “through water and sanitation interventions; as well as the intensification of the vaccination exercise (including the administration of boosters).

This is in addition to existing nonpharmaceutical measures to manage the spread of COVID during the festive season”

The communique added that members received a presentation on the National Social Register and the Rapid Response Register as critical tools for Rolling out cash transfer programme.

It stated that the presentation was from the National Coordinator of the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Mr Iorwa Apera.

“Forum members also listened to the World Bank Country Director, Shubham Chaudhuri

“On the rollout of a World Bank financed 800 million dollars facility designed to fund a large-Scale conditional cash transfer (CCT) program in the country, forum resolved that each State Governor will establish and Chair a Steering Committee to oversee the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) initiative to ensure that the program aligns with the vision of the State Government.

The forum congratulated the Anambra government on the successful conduct of its governorship election and the launch of the Umueri Cargo Airport project.

The NGF believed that both would contribute to peaceful governance transition and additional economic and social opportunities for the people of the State.

The forum added that the Fayemi briefed the meeting on several initiatives overseen by the governors.

These including a partnership with the Africa Export-Import Bank to establish an African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network as a vehicle for promoting intra-African trade and investment;

“The flagship programme of the Nigerian Governors’ Wives Forum (NGWF) which led to the declaration of a state of emergency on sexual and gender based violence (SGV) in Nigeria on June 10, 2020 by the Forum and the subsequent passage of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act in 31 States from only 14 States as at June 2020.(NAN)