Nigerian Governors Off To Court To Fight For Revenue Sharing

Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi

The 36 state governors have warned President Goodluck Jonathan not to keep money meant for the states.

The governors, who met in Abuja on Tuesday night, said they were therefore heading to court to compel the Federal Government to share the money in the Excess Crude Account. It has been learnt that there is $8b in the account.

Their communiqué was read by their Chairman, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State.

The governors also seemed to be challenging the federal government in the area of performance, saying they support the upcoming Good Governance tours as conceptualized by the National Economic Council (NEC) and plan “to use the opportunity to showcase achievements of the States in various areas of service delivery.”  

The governors also resolved to work harder to eradicate polio in the country.  Nigeria is one of only four countries worldwide where polio still exists.  

Full text of the communiqué

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 10th MEETING OF THE NIGERIA GOVERNORS’ FORUM HELD ON WEDNESDAY 19th SEPTEMBER 2012, AT THE RIVERS STATE GOVERNOR’S LODGE, ABUJA

We, the Governors of the 36 States of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at our 10th meeting held todayWednesday 19th September, 2012at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja deliberated over a number of issues and resolved as follows;

1. On the Excess Crude Account, Forum unanimously decided to head back to Court to enforce the Federal Governments’ adherence to the constitution.

 2. Forum supports the upcoming Good Governance tours as conceptualized by the National Economic Council (NEC) and plans to use the opportunity to showcase achievements of the States in various areas of service delivery.

 The tour will be commencing tomorrow, 20th September 2012, with States in the North Central Zone.

 3. Lastly, the Forum resolved to embark on various strategies to deepen

advocacy and administration of polio vaccines with a view to eradicating polio in the country.

Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi

Governor of Rivers State

&, Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum