NGF committee to develop 3-month economy reopening plan

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum during its 9th COVID-19 virtual meeting on Wednesday endorsed the development of a 3-month plan on reopening the economy by its sub-committee on the economy.

It also mandated the committee to interface with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. Members of the sub-committee comprise the Governors of Delta (Chairman), Ekiti, Lagos, Anambra, Kano, Bauchi, Plateau, and the FCT Minister.

The governors also resolved to among other things, interface with the Economic Sustainability Committee chaired by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, to incorporate the contributions of State governments in the Economic Sustainability Plan as a national response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Its legal committee is to meet with the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to consider the implications of Executive Order 10 on governance at the sub-regional levels.

A communique signed by the NGF Chairman and Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, reads in part:

“The Nigeria Governors’ Forum thereafter resolved to: Interface with the Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, on the $1 billion COVID-19 crisis facility approved for the country at the request of the Federal Government by the African Development Bank (AfDB), to embark on the delivery of projects that will meet the needs of Nigerians during this period, in such areas as health emergency assistance, agriculture and food security;

“Continue engagements with CACOVID to consolidate interventions on the distribution of palliatives to vulnerable Nigerians who have lost their means of livelihood as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Endorsed the development of a 3-month plan on reopening the economy by the NEC Sub-Committee that will interface with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 comprising the Governors of Delta (Chairman), Ekiti, Lagos, Anambra, Kano, Bauchi, Plateau and the FCT Minister.

“Through the NGF Legal Committee comprising the Governors of Sokoto, Plateau and Ondo, engage with the Attorney General of the Federation to reflect on the implications of the recently passed Executive Order 10, 2020 on governance at the Sub-National level.”