The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) yesterday announced its readiness to create state police by unveiling a framework developed by its secretariat. This followed the rising demand for decentralised policing to enable states to play a greater role in addressing the country’s security challenges.
According to the governors, the framework was developed in anticipation of the proposed constitutional amendments to the creation of state police. In a communiqué issued at the end of their meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, they said: “The framework outlines key readiness requirements, including governance structures, financing models, human capital standards, digital systems, and oversight mechanisms.”
The governors met with the new Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and his Education counterpart, Tunji Alausa, on tax reforms, revenue performance, and plans to expand basic and secondary education infrastructure. In their meeting with Oyedele, the governors demanded a prompt resolution of outstanding fiscal issues critical to states’ planning and budgetary stability.
The communiqué said: “The briefing covered trends in the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) revenues, ongoing tax reforms, and the broader effort to strengthen revenue mobilisation across all tiers of government. “Governors underscored the imperative of restoring confidence in fiscal management systems and called for the timely resolution of outstanding fiscal matters, which remain critical to subnational planning and budgetary stability.
“The Forum also discussed reforms to broaden the taxpayer base, improve compliance, and ease the burden on basic consumption. “Governors reaffirmed their commitment to working in close partnership with the minister to advance shared fiscal objectives in the interest of all Nigerians.”
In their meeting with Alausa, the state chief executives backed the Federal Government’s proposed 12-year continuous basic education plan and called for more schools across the country. They also pledged their commitment to working with the Federal Government to advance the shared objectives discussed, including expanding access to quality education and ensuring that resources reach the communities that need them most.
The communiqué added: “The Forum noted progress on the NGF States Agribusiness Investment Programme (SAIP) – Rice Helpdesk, supported by the Gates Foundation, aimed at strengthening state capacity to drive improvements in rice production and value chain development.” The governors also approved the establishment of the NGF Academy & Leadership Centre as a new Directorate within the Secretariat, designed as a flagship platform for subnational leadership development.
