Governors of the federal 36 states will meet tomorrow with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission (ICPC) to discuss ways to manage state security votes.
Attempts to get the governor to take action on the impact of last night's meeting on the state proved futile as those contacted remained evasive.
But some state governors, notably those of Osun and Benue, said they were in favor of anything that would improve good governance, particularly in the state and Nigeria generally.
The Federal Internal Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will also attend a meeting, led by the Nigerian Financial Information Unit (NFIU), scheduled for tomorrow, April 4th.
According to a statement yesterday by AbdulRazaque Bello-Barkindo, Media Director of the NGF, Nigeria Governors' Forum, the conference will virtually take place.
‘Controversy around security vote’
Security vote, which has been a source of conroversy in the country, especially as no accountability is rendered, with regards to spending, is a monthly allocation given to state governments for improved security in their domain.
According to Wikipedia, the security vote is allocated to the 36 states for the sole purpose of funding security services within such states, and the amount allocated is determined by the level of security in individual states.
The statement read: “Governors of the 36 states of the federation are to meet with all the economic and financial agencies in the country, to iron out thorny issues surrounding their states’ security votes, towards establishing a better option of managing the funds.
“The meeting, which is to take place on Tuesday, April 4, according to an invitation issued by the Director General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr Asishana Bayo Okauru, will be virtual, to ensure full attendance by all the relevant officers in the matter.
“Those invited to the meeting include the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
“Furthermore, the meeting will also consider deepening the management and expansion of the cashless policy which took effect from the time of the redesigning of the national currency, the Nigerian Naira, last year, to further the financial inclusion of all citizens in the ensuing scheme of things, going forward.
Meeting at NFIU’s instance
“This meeting is called at the instance of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, in its letter of March 30, which was addressed to the chairman of the NGF and signed by the NFIU Director, Modibbo Hamman Tukur.
“The letter said apart from the facilities for national financial inclusion, it is also putting on the table the uniform development and cooperation on the nation, addressing and post code project, which will put Nigeria on the same pedestal as all advanced countries across the globe.
“Also on the agenda is a consensus on harmonizing and updating the national tax collection and business entry standards and its requirements to help respond to the FATF and the EU grey listing in which Nigeria appeared.
“All governors are advised to prioritize the meeting as its contents had been discussed at the NGF emergency meeting of Thursday, March 30, where it was unanimously agreed that a meeting with the aforementioned agencies was imperative.”
Recall that over the years, whatever Nigerians had heard about the real amount being appropriated to state governors in Nigeria as security votes had remained guess work, even as those in the corridors of power have described security votes as humongous amounts of money spent by governors but unaccounted for. But last night, Osun Governor Ademora Adeleke said through his spokesman, Olaware Rasheed, that he was in no way threatened by the meeting.
“The Osun State Government welcomes any action or decision that helps achieve good governance through due process and the rule of law. “We are not threatened by development. , in its first few months in office, ensured transparency and openness in dealing with state finances.
"So it's totally out of the question for governors and state governments to host a meeting on security voting. “As you know, Osun State is in a unique environment with high debt and already in control of the meager resources available to the state.”
Misunderstanding - Ortom
Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue state, also welcomed the meeting, saying it would clear up misunderstandings about the security vote. He said he had not received an invitation to do so from the NGF's executive director, but said this was the case.
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