Governors of the 36 states of Nigeria have unanimously surrendered $1 Billion (about N360 Billion) to the federal government to prosecute the ongoing battle with Boko Haram insurgents.
Rising from the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the governors surrendered the huge sum of money as a way of support to the federal government.
The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, who briefed news men on the outcome of the meeting, said: “NEC resolved, through the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), to support the effort of the Federal Government in the area of security and are pleased with the achievement that have been made till date in the fight against insurgency, particularly in the North East.
“The governors of Nigeria, through their chairman, announced at the NEC meeting that the governors have given permission to the federal government to spend the sum of 1 billion US dollars in the fight of insurgency.
“This money is supposed to be taken from the Excess Crude Account.”
He said that in order for the federal government to have good working relation with state governments, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), will organise a retreat for Secretaries to the State Governments (SSG) across the federation from the 18 to 19th of December.
The SGF appealed to all the governors to ensure that all SSGs attend the retreat.
“We also discussed the issue of fuel supply, as you know, there has been challenge of fuel supply in the country. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources assured Council that within the next 48 hours, fuel supply will be restored nationwide, because there is enough fuel in our strategic reserves and that the ministry has released fuel from these reserves.
He said that distribution of the product will reach all part of the country within the next 48 hours.[myad]
