No Legal backing for Direct credit of Local Government NGF tells NFIU

SECRETARIAT, ABUJA

W8. members of the Nigeria Govemors’ Forum (NGF), at our meeting held today at the NGF Secretariat Abuja, deliberated on several issues and resolved as follows:

1. The Forum is concerned with the recent guidelines of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) which seek to impose restriction on the powers of States and Local Governments to operate within constitutionally approved parameters. The new guidelines have no legal basis under the NFIU Act and are contrary to constitutional provisions which put the State Joint Local Government Account under the legislation of the State

Houses of Assembly.

. The guidelines will also be detrimental to the interest of States and

local governments by crippling programmes such as the Universal Basic Education programme, Primary Health Care Under One ROOf. as well as the payment of the salaries of teachers, medical
doctors and health workers among others which are primarily timded by State governments.

1. The Forum unanimously elected Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State as the new Chaiman of the Nigeria Govemors’ Forum ii’om 2019-2021.
2. Members also elected Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State as Vice Chairman of the Forum from 2019 2021.
3. On the current national security situation, Governors resolved to hold a meeting with Mr. President to find real and

solutions to the security challenges facing the country.

Governor Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar

Chair ‘ man, ngel‘il Governors’ Forum

22″ May 2019