By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have called for an independent investigation to unravel the humongous figures bandied by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the federal government as subsidy interventions.
The governors also called for an inquest on the importation of the adulterated fuel that has damaged so many vehicles and created fuel scarcity in the country since last week.
In a communique issued by the governors at the end of their meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state on Monday, the opposition governors asked the National Assembly to expedite action on the devolution of powers as it is on the last phase of the alteration of the 1999 constitution just as it expressed satisfaction over court ruling on the deductions from the federation account for Police Trust Fund which was instituted by governor Wike of Rivers State.
At the meeting attended by Govs. Okezie Ikpeazu – Abia State (Vice Chairman), Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa) Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Sen. Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Gov. Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), (Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde (Oyo) and (Nyesom Wike), the governors urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the amended electoral act into law so that electoral processes will be better enhanced.
The communique reads in part:
“The PDP Governors urged Mr President to immediately sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law. Waiting to run out the 30 days is yet another sign of unwillingness by Mr President to give Nigeria a reformed Electoral framework. If there are still misgivings on any aspect of the Bill Amendments may be introduced at a later stage.
“The Governors congratulated PDP for winning 43 out of 62 Councillorship positions in the Abuja Area Council election results, just concluded. Inspite of improvements in the conduct of elections, the Gwagwalada and Abuja Area Council results show that manipulations are still possible. They urged INEC to tighten all observed loopholes and further improve on the functioning of the BIVAS Machine for future elections.
“The Governors expressed their displeasure on the issue of contaminated Fuel supplied to Nigerians and urged government to bring perpetrators to account.
“The Governors frowned at the duplicity, inconsistency, insincerity of the APC led Federal Government on the fuel subsidy regime, which has been badly and corruptly administered. The figures of consumption and ascribed to Nigerians appear fictitious and bloated. They called for proper investigation to be conducted on this matter.
“The Forum welcomed the Court decision on Police Trust Fund deductions from the Federation Account, a suit at the instance of Rivers State and urged the Federal Government to stop similar unconstitutional deductions from the Federation Account.
“In the same vein, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission should expedite action on the new Revenue Allocation formula in such a way as to increase allocation to States and Local Government.
“The Forum once again deplored the way and manner the CBN is being run as an alternate government, indeed, a government within a Government. It is time to streamline its functions and processes to be constitutionally compliant.
“The Forum once again decried the opaque nature of NNPC operations. They called for accountability and reconciliation of NNPC remittances into the federation account.
“As the National Assembly winds down this current phase of the Constitution Review exercise, the Forum urged that they revisit the issue of devolution of more powers to the States and Local Governments.
“This opportunity to rejig the framework for policing and securing Nigeria should not be missed. To this end, the Forum would set up a Panel of Consultants to have a thorough look at the security architecture of Nigeria and make recommendations.
“The Governors also urged the National Assembly to transfer some items from the Exclusive Legislative List to Concurrent List”
