Nigeria Governors Forum gets new Chairman

Nigeria Governors Forum gets new Chairman

The Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi has been elected the Chairman of the very influential and powerful Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF).

Governor Amaechi was elected on Monday at a meeting of the NGF in Ilorin Kwara State, hosted by outgoing Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
He was unanimously elected by the governors.

Amaechi's is not one of the frontrunners for the chairmanship.

Reading the communiqué, the outgoing chairman, Dr Saraki said the selection of the new chairman was made after an extensive debate. He said that all the governors supported his choice without going into voting.

Allocation review

He said the forum received and adopted the Fashola committee report on revenue allocation formula with some amendments and agreed to designate the new chairman and vice chairman to negotiate with the leadership of the National Assembly on the revenue allocation formula, engage with the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, the Presidency as well as the media.

Members of the Fashola committee and the secretariat were also enjoined to lead the media campaign.

Accepting his appointment, Mr. Rotimi Amechi said he would consolidate on the achievements of the forum and build on what the outgoing chairman had done.

He said the criteria used were not based on party line but rather the ability and trust of colleagues to serve them.
Explaining the adoption of the Fashola committee recommendation on revenue allocation, he said the forum would try to negotiate with the Presidency and National Assembly to get the desired change.

Governor, Ameachi said that the forum was prepared to explore areas to partner with the Presidency to get more revenue for the states so that projects can be financed properly.

PR/Iheanacho