Governors elected under the Peoples Democratic Party have expressed worry over President Muhammadu Buhari’s continuing delay in signing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law.
The PDP Governors’ Forum in a communique issued at the end of its regular meeting in Yenagoa, on Monday to review the state of the nation, urged the President to immediately sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law.
They said, “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.”
They reaffirmed the readiness of the PDP to rescue the nation from what they described as the misrule of the APC.
The Governors congratulated the PDP for winning 43 out of 62 Councillorship positions in the just concluded Abuja Area Council election.
“Inspite of improvements in the conduct of elections, the Gwagwalada and Abuja Area Council results show that manipulations are still possible,” they added
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 the importation and supply of contaminated fuel to Nigerians and urged government to bring the perpetrators to account.
The governors also condemned the alleged duplicity, inconsistency, insincerity of the APC-led Federal Government on the fuel subsidy regime, which has been badly and corruptly administered.
The governors who said that the figures of consumption ascribed to Nigerians appear fictitious and bloated called for proper investigation to be conducted on the matter.
The Forum welcomed the Court decision on the Police Trust Fund deductions from the Federation Account, and urged the Federal Government to stop similar unconstitutional deductions from the Federation Account.
They called on the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to 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 the CBN is being run as an alternate government. They said that it was high its functions were streamlined in line with the constitution.
The Forum which again decried the opaque nature of NNPC operations, called for accountability and reconciliation of its 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.
The said that the opportunity to rejig the framework for policing and securing Nigeria should not be missed. To this end, the Forum agreed to 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.
The PDP Governors congratulated Gov. Douye Diri on his second anniversary in office.
They said that he has made a positive difference for the people of Bayelsa State.
They thanked him for being such a gracious and wonderful host.
In attendance are:
Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu – Abia State – Vice Chairman, Gov. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri -Adamawa State. Gov. Udom Emmanuel – Akwa Ibom State, Gov. Bala Mohammed -Bauchi State, Gov. Sen. Douye Diri – Bayelsa State and Gov. Samuel Ortom -Benue State.
Others are Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa – Delta State, Gov. Godwin Obaseki – Edo State, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – Enugu State,Gov. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde – Oyo State and Gov. Nyesom Wike – Rivers State.
