The Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF) has criticised the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami for his stance on the $418 million consultancy contract for the Paris Club refund to states and local governments.
In a communiqué read after the forum’s meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, its Chairman, Kayode Fayemi said the governors reject Abubakar Malami’s claims on the issue.
Mr. Malami is in support of the deduction of the money from states’ funds to pay consultants for their alleged roles in the Paris Club refund to the states and local governments.
The governors are against it, and Governor Fayemi said the NGF will pursue the matter up to the Supreme Court.
“As far as we are concerned, this is a matter that governors feel very strongly about, and we do not believe that the Attorney General of the Federation is acting in the public interest.
“We believe he is acting in personal, selfish interest that will ultimately become clear when this matter is fully addressed in the law courts,” he said.
The governors also enjoined the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to find a mutual resolution to the union’s ongoing strike.
“The forum encourages the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities to find meaningful resolutions to the lingering impasse and has proposed to engage with both parties, just as we have done in the past, in a bid to ending the strike.”
Governor Fayemi disclosed that he and his colleagues agreed to meet with the federal government, organised labour, and presidential candidates to discuss ways of reviving Nigeria’s economy.
“The forum extensively discussed the state of the Nigerian economy and security following a presentation by Mr. Bismark Rewane, member of the president’s economic advisory council.
“The forum resolved to immediately engage with the federal government and other critical stakeholders: labour, the presidential candidates of political parties, and corporate actors on finding resolutions and suggestions to implement a set of immediate actions to ameliorate the worsening economic conditions in the country,” Governor Fayemi stated.
The NGF agreed to help in promoting fiscal transparency and accountability, domestic revenue mobilization, and debt sustainability.
