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Tag: NGF

  • NGF bars reporters from covering induction for governors

    The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has expressed displeasure at journalists over the way they reported the looming recession warning by the Chairman of the forum and Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari.

    The governor, on Monday, had warned that another round of recession could occur in the middle of 2020.

    The warning, which generated a lot of backlash for the governor, did not go down well with the forum, it was learnt.

    Consequently, reporters assigned to cover the induction for newly-elected and returning governors were barred from entering the venue on the second day.

    The three-day induction programme holding at the State House Conference Centre (Banquet Hall), Abuja, will end today.

    State House correspondents and accredited NGF correspondents were not allowed entry into the venue.

    But the ban was not extended to the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) whose crew were allowed into the conference centre. Yari, in his opening remarks on Monday, warned incoming governors to be prepared for the possibility of another cycle of recession by the mid-2020 to the third quarter of 2021.

    The NGF chairman, who was preparing the minds of the governors, especially the newly elected ones on the challenges ahead, noted that while the crude oil price was over $100 from 2011 to 2015, the price nosedived to less than 75 per cent from 2015, leading to recession.

    He said: “On our part, we made a lot of achievements in infrastructural development and provision of social services because we enjoyed a relatively high oil price of about $100 to $114 per barrel between 2001 and the middle of 2014. However, by the mid-2014, the price of crude oil, which is sadly the main driving force of government’s expenditure, dropped to $75 per barrel. It, therefore, became very difficult for many states to even pay salaries of their workers.

    “This scenario is a wake-up call for all of you to come amply prepared to face these kinds of challenges, especially since we are expecting the possibility of another cycle of recession by mid-2020 and which may last up to the third quarter of 2021. Your good spirit of stewardship will make you contain the situation should there be one.”

     

    “Also, as members of the National Economic Council, you must work hand-in-hand to boost the economy in tandem with the global best practices.”

    The security at the venue said the directive to bar reporters was from the NGF but the forum claimed that the security officials gave the directive on their own.

    There was no official statement on why reporters were barred from further coverage of the event; not even the forum’s spokesperson Abdulrazaq Barkindo was able to answer questions from agitated reporters.

    Barkindo, who dismissed the suggestion that the directive came from the NGF, explained that the security officials took the decision without recourse to the forum.

    He also said efforts to reverse the decision had failed.

  • NGF congratulates Ag. IGP Adamu

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has congratulated the new Acting Inspector General of Police Mr. Adamu Abubakar Mohammed.

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat In a statement signed by Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, Head, Media and Public Affairs believes that the appointment is well deserved considering his personal accomplishments.

    Adamu Mohammed Lafia had occupied the office of the Director of Peace Keeping operations, led the Enugu Police Command as Police Commissioner and was AIG in charge of Zone 5.

    Until his appointment, he was at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) as a directing staff. Adamu Mohammed Lafia is reputed to be a man of impeccable character.

    Apart from heading Police formations at their most strategic levels in Nigeria, Adamu Mohammed Lafia had also risen to the apex of international policing in Lyon France, where he rose through the hierarchy of the organization to ascend the exalted position of the Vice President of INTERPOL, a position he held for years with distinction.

    Read Also: Buhari decorates new IGP Adamu

    According to the statement, the Director General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr. Asishana B Okauru said “I am absolutely sure that Adamu Mohammed Lafia would bring professionalism and true leadership to policing in our country”.

    Okauru, who had worked with several notable police officers during his time as the Director of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) within the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) further added that “I can attest to his solid pedigree and rich experience. He is arguably the most qualified serving police officer at this time, to occupy the very sensitive office of the Inspector General of Police”.

    The NGF sincerely hope that the new top cop would harness all his experiences from his previous offices, at home and abroad, with dexterity and a fervent drive to curb crime, ensure peace in the entire country and once again propound the policing principles that will lead Nigerians to believe that the police, “is your friend”.

  • FG, governors yet to agree on minimum wage

    The Federal Government and State governors are yet to agree on a common figure as the minimum wage.

    The Economic Management Team (EMT), chaired by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo met with representatives of the governors on Monday towards taking position on the new minimum wage which the organised labour is insisting on N30,000.

    The governors at the meeting on Monday had requested to meet on Tuesday under the platform of the Nigeria’s Governors Forum (NGF) in order to critically analyse the memo from the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, and finally take a common stand.

    But there was indication on Monday that the governors were not in agreement with the Federal Government over the figure for the new minimum wage.

    Stressing that state governments are willing to pay any amount demanded by the workers as minimum wage, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, while speaking with State House correspondents, said that their main challenge could be the capacity to pay.

    According to him, the meeting was for the government side to look at the bottleneck on the minimum wage with the organised labour.

    He said, “The position of the governors is not very clear to some of you. We are willing to pay any amount but the issue is the capacity to pay.”

    The meeting, he said, discussed the proposal made by the organised labour and the figure proposed by the Federal Government, adding that “the governors still haven’t come out with any figure.”

    Read Also: Osinbajo, governors meet over minimum wage

    “So by Tuesday, we are going to discuss with our governors on the bill by the Minister of Labour and Employment to the NGF Secretariat.

    “We will digest it and come up with our own positions as governors because we are critical stakeholders on this issue.” he said

    A reliable source from the meeting said that the governors were not comfortable with the N24,000 proposal by the Federal Government and would likely come up with their own figure after meeting today.

    According to him, the governors were furious with the N24,000 being proposed when some governors were unable to pay the current N18,000.

    The Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige said the meeting had a fruitful deliberation.

    He said, “We held a meeting for us to bring out modalities for us to respond to the emerging problems thrown up by the National Minimum wage Committee and we have very fruitful meeting which necessitated in governors having further meeting on Tuesday.

    “We will reconvene on Tuesday to brief the Economic Management Team and the Vice president and we take it up from there.

    “The governors will meet to take a position and brief the Economic Management Team. This meeting is only for the Tripartite Committee of the government side.” he said

  • I’m under pressure to leave APC – Yari

    *Insists primaries held in Zamfara

    *Says it’s a huge joke to nominate Zamfara Gov candidate from Abuja

     

    Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, on Friday said that he has been under intense pressure to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) with his supporters.

    Yari, who is the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja.

    He also handed over the results of the primaries conducted in the state to the President after the Jumaat prayer.

    He promised that despite the pressure from his people to dump the APC, he will remain with the party and fight against any injustice.

    According to him, his supporters were aggrieved over the turn out of events following the party leadership’s refusal to acknowledge the primaries conducted last week in the state.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had also barred the APC from fielding any candidates for the 2019 poll in Zamfara for not conducting primary elections in the state.

    He explained that the development has caused frustration among his supporters.

    The governor also warned the national leadership of the party not to present any list that did not emanate from the primaries conducted before the expiration of the deadline for the primaries in the state.

    Reacting to reports of his purported romance with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party on the social media, Yari, who was flanked by the Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, said, “I don’t know whether that is a joke or otherwise.

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    “But for me, if you check my history since 1998, APP, and 2002 when Buhari joined ANPP, and 2015 APC, no time that I shifted from one party to another. That is not in my culture. So, the issue of leaving the party is not true.

    “But some other people are sending rumour through the social media. I have seen my picture with the PDP and other parties. Yes, I cannot deny pressure from the people that we should leave APC but what I told them is that what we are looking for is just justice.

    “We conducted election and we want to see what the result is going to look. But I think for any body to come under the national secretariat and say he is going to nominate a candidate, I think, it is a very huge joke.” he said

    The Zamfara State Governor wondered why the INEC could claim that there were no primaries in the state when the government agencies including the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the electoral umpire was at hand to monitor the process in the state.

    He said though there were some hitches in some places in the state that made the committee to postpone primary elections in the affected areas, the process he said was concluded the next day.

    He said, “There were hitches somewhere but we decided to suspend the area there were problems until the following day. So, the following day, we continued and we concluded the election by the people nominated by that committee to conduct election but the committee ran away and refused to collate the results.

    “So, what we did was that we filed the results and kept it under the watch of those people and waited to see what was going to happen. The second committee waited 32 hours to the closing, we thought the committee will hasten and come up with modalities for the election.

    “But committee wasted about 18 hours discussing about how the modalities were going to be. So, when we realised that, we were actually advised by the supervisory agency that is INEC and other agencies there that the best thing to do as the people had voted and since it was 7am was to start counting.

    “When they finished, they released the materials and we adopted the numbers. Already, we had produced our own set of forms for the national Assembly which we have done and then, when we concluded, I didn’t see members of the committee until one and half hours to the time.

    “Then, when they came I asked them what they came for, they said they came for reconciliation and I said which reconciliation? People can not reconcile over a month and you are trying to reconcile in an hour. Then, I realised that there was a game that was being played so that we can run out of time.” he said

    According to him, the national body of APC had other crude ways to produce candidates contrary to section 87 of the Electoral Act that the party must follow a process before producing any candidate.

    “Therefore, the most important is that we conducted election on the 3rd and 4th of October and all agencies, INEC, Civil Defence, Police, and DSS were there and they signed for us and the report was written by the REC that elections were conducted.

    “Unfortunately, for the INEC to say that there was no election, we don’t know where they got their information but we believe they have a report directly from their representative there that election was held in Zamfara state, so, it depends on what they want to do.

    “But, in any way, we were advised when the chairman of the committee came out and said there was no election in Zamfara state, we realised it was going to be a litigation issue. We quickly rushed to court, we filed a case and the case is coming up next week.

    “So, I think that is the only saving grace for the party and INEC for court of competent jurisdiction to give judgement on Zamfara matter that there was election.” he stated.

  • NGF hosts states tax officers

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum ( NGF ) on Monday hosted tax officers from the 36 states of the federation in Abuja.

    The meeting was to introduce them to the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) dashboard, which is an innovation of the Economic department of the NGF.

    At the occasion, the NGF Director General, Mr Okauru, charged the desk officers not to see the exercise as another jamboree but to view it as serious business designed to shore up the revenue base of their various states.

    He said: “I want to start by warmly welcoming every person to Abuja and particularly to the NGF Secretariat building. This is where we host the thirty-six (36) Governors every time they are in Abuja for NGF meetings or sub-committee sessions.

    “As you probably know, under our constitution, Governors or their deputies are required to attend the National Economic Council (NEC) meetings in Abuja presided over by the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria once every month.

    “NEC is the highest economic advisory body in the country. It is important we put this in context because of today’s event.

    “This is not another talk shop. It is a very serious event designed to train Desk Officers on one of our flagship projects: the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) Dashboard Initiative. The IGR Dashboard is dedicated to strengthening ongoing reforms targeted at raising the internally generated revenue of States, by actively engaging with the 37 tax authorities in the country, including the FCT.

    “In the past years, we have built a strong relationship with the Executive Chairmen of the State Inland Revenue Bodies/Agencies/Services. We strongly believe that for the IGR Dashboard Initiative to succeed, it is important we maintain another layer of relationship in the space you operate. In my opinion, as Desk Officers, you are functionally the most important part of the implementation puzzle.

    ‘You are a very crucial point of contact on all matters related to the IGR Dashboard. This is an important call in the broader context of our engagement with your State governors in the drive for strong political commitment for IGR reforms.

    Some States have since taken advantage of this initiative. However, beginning from today, you now have a fresh level-playing ground for all States to take advantage of the opportunities the IGR Dashboard provides.

    “We expect some degree of networking among yourselves to facilitate sharing experiences. You also have a unique opportunity to request for technical assistance from the NGF Secretariat and our development partners.

    “The outcome in some states back our conviction that addressing the challenges of tax administration at the sub-national level can be achieved within a short period. The NGF has taken a leading position on this by continuing to play an active role in strengthening institutional and governance systems at the sub-national level, including your Internal Revenue Agencies/Bodies/Services.

    “Our support to States has been through the provision of evidence to influence policy formulation and implementation, the development of knowledge resources to strengthen reforms and the delivery of national platforms for peer learning.

    To contribute to a more coherent reform environment and fast track full domestication of commendable practices across all States and the FCT, the NGF Secretariat also develops GUIDES for implementing reforms based on extensive experience in peer reviewing the 36 States over the last ten (10) years.” he said

    This, he said, has significantly improved the way State governments run and the overall governance climate in the country.

    “In light of your important role, we will today be launching a GUIDE for the IGR Dashboard. We encourage you all to adopt the approaches documented in this GUIDE. They have worked in many States. This document also provides guidance to our in-house team in building the capacity of revenue officials at the state level. It is the reference tool at different administrative levels in the design, implementation and monitoring of tax reforms.

    “Our doors are open. We are happy to maintain and in fact deepen this relationship. Please take advantage of the presentations and contributions of our facilitators and the opportunity to share useful lessons with your peers.

    “I wish you all a fruitful time and even more so the application of the knowledge acquired here in your various states.” he said

  • ‘NGF considers e-voting in future elections’

    The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) is considering implementation of e-voting in future general elections.

    Jigawa State Acting Governor Barrister Ibrahim Hadejia stated this while fielding question to news men in his residence shortly after the traditional homage Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Sunusi paid him.

    He said: “e-voting is very possible as it has been practiced in some nations. Even here in Nigeria, it has happened.

    “The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) had practiced it in their recent election of their national executives and it was successful.”

    The deputy governor also disclosed the state government released about N30 million as logistic supports to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to expand Permanent Voter Cards (PCVs) registration in the state.

    He explained: “Although the people in the state tried because people registered more than expectation, the government still saw it very important to encourage and support those remaining, especially the ones in the hard-to-reach areas such as Gwaram, Birninkudu, Guri and Kirikasamma local government areas.”

     

  • Court orders forfeiture of NGF’s N1.4b to FG

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday ordered the forfeiture of N1, 442,384,857.84 belonging to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to the Federal Government.

    The sum was found by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the bank accounts of three firms accused of impersonating consultants hired by the NGF to analyse the Paris/London Club loan refunds due to the states.

    The order is sequel to an October 13, 2017 interim forfeiture order obtained by the EFCC from the court, which placed a “Post No Debit” order on the accounts containing the N1.4billion and N220million.

    The EFCC, which also secured Friday’s order, alleged that the firms obtained N3.5billion from the NGF by making false claims.

    The firms are – Melrose General Services Limited, WASP Networks Limited and Thebe Wellness Services.

    They were accused of impersonating a consortium of consulting firms engaged by the NGF for the “verification, reconciliation and recovery of over-deductions on Paris and London Club Loans on the accounts of states and local governments between 1995 and 2002.”

    The EFCC said the original firms engaged by the Forum were GSCL Consulting and Bizplus Consulting Services Limited.

    But an EFCC investigator, Usman Zakari, said the alter ego of Melrose General Services Limited, Robert Mbonu, made a false representation to the NGF, causing it to pay N3.5billion to his company on December 14, 2016.

    Zakari said the money was credited into the Access Bank account of Melrose General Services Limited, adding that the respondents dissipated and laundered about N2.3billion out of the money between December 15, 2016, and January 20, 2017, leaving a balance of N1.2billion.

    Zakari said the anti-graft agency had recovered N220million out of the laundered sum from the second and third respondents.

    Justice Olatoregun’s October 13, 2017 interim order followed a prayer by EFCC counsel, Ekene Iheanacho, who said it would best serve the interest of justice for the respondents to be ordered to forfeit the N1.4billion temporarily to prevent them from dissipating same.

    In upholding Iheanacho’s application, the judge directed the EFCC to publish the order in a national daily.

    She gave anyone interested in the funds 14 days to appear before her to show cause why the funds should not be forfeited permanently.

    Subsequently, one Prince Godwin Maduka and Linas International Limited showed up before the court, praying separately that the funds should be forfeited to them.

    Maduka claimed that his firm, Udemgaba Maduka & Associates, had been engaged in 2011 as a consultant by Zamfara State Government to help the state recover some hanging funds, with an agreement that it would be paid 20 per cent of the recovered funds.

    He urged the court to forfeit the N1.4billion to his company to cover Zamfara State’s alleged indebtedness to him.

    But the EFCC opposed Maduka, contending that the suit was not a debt recovery suit and that Zamfara State was not a party to the suit.

    In a ruling on Friday, Justice Olatoregun upheld the EFCC’s argument and dismissed Maduka’s claims.

     

  • Governors promise to pay workers’ salaries before Christmas

    Governors promise to pay workers’ salaries before Christmas

    Governors of the 36 states of the federation on Tuesday pledged to make workers happy by paying their emoluments before the commencement of the Yuletide season.

    A statement from the office of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, said the governors assurance followed the instruction by President Muhammadu Buhari that governors should be paid what is due to their states to enable workers get their salaries before the Christmas.

    According to the statement, the presidential directive was issued at a meeting between the governors and the President at Aso Rock on Monday.

    The statement reads: “The governors had expressed profound gratitude to the President for his magnanimity in hearkening to the needs of the states and understanding with them towards helping to solve some of the intractable financial problems of governance, top among which is the lingering problem of workers’ salaries.

    “They pledged, therefore, to rise up to the occasion collectively, as a mark of their respect for President Muhammadu Buhari and empathy for the workers by paying before Christmas, once the Finance,  Budget and Planning Ministries and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) disburse the monies owed them, as instructed.”

    The governors recalled that the President had remarked that, “I will not be saying much because the responsible ministers are here: Finance, Budget and Planning and the Central Bank of Nigeria.  I request you to appoint your own team to come and sit down with them (referring to the governors).

    “This should be done, not only for next year’s budget but for this Christmas. The Minister of Finance, Budget and Planning and the Central Bank should sit down with you in a sub-committee to see how much can be released before Christmas.”

    READ ALSO: Governors must pay workers’ salaries before Xmas – Buhari

    The statement said that no mention of “all workers arrears” was made by President Buhari.

    “For Nigerians without sources other than their salary, I am concerned that workers should be able to pay rent, school fees, buy drugs and take care of their families. I am so much concerned that people should have something to eat for Christmas,” the President added.

  • Only 18 states have complied with TSA, says NGF

    Only 18 states have complied with TSA, says NGF

    NO fewer than 18 of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, may have fully complied with the Treasury Single Account (TSA) mandate of the federal government, The Nation has learnt.

    A study conducted by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat across the 36 states of the federation to determine the level of implementation of a centralised TSA in each state, revealed that not all the states have adopted the policy regime.

    The TSA is a financial policy in use in several countries all over the world. It was introduced by the federal government in 2012 to consolidate all inflows from all agencies of government into a single account at the Central Bank of Nigeria. It however came into effect on August 11, 2015.

    The apex bank had subsequently released Operational Guidelines for the use of TSA by state governments last year in accordance with its powers, as provided in the CBN Act 2007, Section 47, sub-section 2 (2d).

    According to the CBN, the aim of the guidelines is to provide state governments with a clear framework to support their successful implementation of the TSA initiative.

    This, it says, will be “based on standardised banking arrangements, operational processes and information technology infrastructure. The guidelines also provide that government agencies will not operate any bank account under any guise outside the purview and oversight of the treasury.

    In addition, each state government is required to inform the CBN governor of its decision to introduce the TSA scheme, detailing the state’s preferred TSA model and its level of preparedness.

    Besides, the CBN mandated state governors and Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to subsume their personal interests under the greater needs of their states and citizens just as it reckoned that the present insolvency of some states will be reduced if they adopt the TSA policy.

    However, investigation by The Nation revealed that only about 18 of the states had fully complied with the TSA mandate with others yet to operationalise it.

    Confirming this development, a source at the NGF, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak for the body confided in The Nation that majority of the states were still working out finer details almost one year after the TSA guidelines were released.

    According to the source, Several attempts to get the Acting Director, Corporate Communication, CBN, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor to give an update on TSA compliance across the states as at press time were futile as he did not return calls as well as respond to text messages sent to his mobile phone.

  • Restructuring needs constitutional amendment- Dogara

    Restructuring needs constitutional amendment- Dogara

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara on Wednesday night said that any meaningful restructuring in the country will still require amendment of the 1999 constitution.

    He made the remark while speaking to State House correspondences after briefing the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) led by Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari.

    On what he discussed with the Governors, he said “I was asked to see them so that we can talk about some of these constitutional alterations in the National Assembly so l came to meet them so that we can talk on most of the Bills we are considering.

    “Even though l am the Speaker, l can tell you that l can only speak where majority of our members have agreed upon. So it is a bit early for me to conclude. But this is a democracy and in a democracy, the majority matters.

    “We are aware of the ongoing agitations in the country. Some are calling for restructuring while some call it true Federalism. This is an an issue on the manifestos of the APC. It is our feeling as a very responsive and responsible representatives of the people to ensure that this debate is done.

    “And I agree like l said before that the position of the President that most of this matters and issues should be canvassed at the levels of the National Assembly.

    “This is because some of the structural imbalances that we are talking about that need what they call restructuring cannot be corrected just by a stroke of the pen. Some of them are actually embedded in the provisions of the constitution.

    “Even by pedestrians description of the function of government, the Executive cannot make laws, they cannot amend the constitution. They can only initiate the process in an Executive bill, but it ultimately revolves within the powers of the legislature.

    “So, even the committee that is set up by the APC leadership on true federalism, by the time they conclude their work, most of the issues they come out with will require a kind of tinkering of the constitution.

    “So, our feeling is that we should not just close the windows to the yearnings of majority of our people. We should listen again to all the stakeholders, listen more to Nigerians and at the end of the day, we will come up with an exercise that meets the expectations and yearnings of our peoples.

    “We will not just amend the constitution for the sake of amending. We will want the exercise to be very impactful. The only way we can get that done is to listen and listen and listen more.” he said

    Yari, at the end of the meeting, said that the forum met with Dogara, towards facilitating amendment of the 1999 Constitution.

    The forum had few weeks back received briefings from the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu over the proposed amendment.

    Yari said: “As a follow up to the briefing by Mr. Deputy Senate President, Mr. Speaker briefed us on the version of the House of Representatives on the constitutional amendment which very soon they will soon harmonise.

    “As critical stakeholders, they visited us and gave us their input on the other critical areas that are not touched like the area of restructuring, devolution of power etc. all those are going to be looked into and considered for the betterment of our country.”

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    The governor also disclosed that the forum received briefing on how to tackle cash crunch in their states through issuance of bonds.

    “We also received briefing from the Stock Exchange on how to address the issue of cash crunch on the nation. They spoke to us on the need to raise bond. Globally is the borrowing from outside that you use to for infrastructure not the borrowing from within.

    “So the stock exchange has given us opportunity for some states that are ready to go into the stock exchange to raise bond to finance some projects.

    “Because what is tied to the bonds is our income and our income is shrinking. Through the bonds we can finance projects that will impact on the water supply and sanitation etc.

    “We are putting a committee in place made up of the members of the stock exchange as well as from the NGF secretariat to work together on that.” he said

    He also debunked the media reports claiming that President Muhammadu Buhari was not happy with governors over salaries arrears.

    He said “We briefed the members about our meeting with Mr president yesterday, which I’m surprised some of you turned it upside down. You got the full briefing from me and then some of your people went and said they got from inside, I don’t know which inside that the president is not happy with the governors. It is very unfortunate.

    “We had a very fruitful meeting with Mr. President and Mr. President accepted all our requests. The only thing Mr. President said that he was not a technical person, and that we should wait for the minister of finance to return, and the chairman of the economic council to be around so that they can give him update and support on what he is going to say to us.

    “So he said we should reschedule this meeting until when he returns from Turkey. I think this is what I told the press yesterday but I wonder how they turn it around. Please we have to be serious with our job, this is Nigeria we are working for, we are working for our country, working for our people so we shouldn’t misinform the public and should be guided with the things discussed.”

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