The Federal Government has agreed to stop deductions from the state governments’ accounts in order to meet the Local Government Councils London/Paris Club obligations.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Aminu Tambuwal, disclosed this while briefing governors across the 36 states in a meeting held on Tuesday night.
He said the Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed, has also ensured a refund of the previous deductions from the respective states’ accounts.
The meeting also saw a change of the forum’s leadership with Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq emerging as the new Chairman and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, as the Vice Chairman.
Tambuwal said, “The Minister of Finance has granted the request of our forum to immediately stop further deductions from the accounts of States to meet Local Government Councils London Paris Club obligations and the monies so far deducted be paid back to the states.
“On the leadership of the forum, the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, emerged the new Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum through a consensus, and the Governor of Oyo State Seyi Makinde is now the Vice-Chairman.
“Members expressed satisfaction with the success of the just concluded Induction for new and returning Governors that took place between 14 and 19, May 2023.
Recall that the issue of Paris Club obligations and deductions has recently been the major cause of dispute between FG and state governments.
Punch