Governors schedule emergency meeting as schools resume amidst rising COVID-19 cases

The 36 state governors in Nigeria will hold a virtual meeting on Jan. 20, to discuss issues relating to the second wave of COVID-19.

Mr Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, Head of Media and Public Affairs, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) said this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

Bello-Barkindo said that the meeting would commence at 2p.m, adding that the focus will be on the second wave of the pandemic.

He said that Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, heading NGF Committee charged with the responsibility of liaising between the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and the forum, would brief the meeting on COVID-19 vaccines and the way forward.

According to him, Okowa is expected to give a panoramic view of the second wave of the pandemic.

He added that NGF Chairman, Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, would also brief the forum on his meeting with the President.
“Fayemi will update the forum on all pending matters that have remained inconclusive, flowing from the previous year’s meetings,” he said.

Bello-Barkindo said that the meeting would also discuss other issues like Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) deductions, external debts reconciliation (2002-2018) among others.

“The governors will also be updated on the States’ Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) implantation in 2020,” he said.

Bello-Barkindo said that the meeting would be in conformity with all COVID-19 protocols.