In order to fulfil its duties under the Local Government Councils London/Paris Club, the Federal Government has agreed to stop deducting money from the accounts of the state governments.
Aminu Tambuwal, the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, revealed this to governors from all 36 states during a meeting on Tuesday night.
He claimed that Zainab Ahmed, the finance minister, had also made sure that the prior deductions from the accounts of the various states would be refunded.
The summit also saw a shift in the leadership of the forum, with Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State, becoming the Vice Chairman and Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the governor of Kwara State, becoming the new 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.
