FG not handling insecurity properly; NASS must probe $50bn oil money – Governors’ Forum

The Governor Rotimi Amaechi-led Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has linked security breaches in the country to complacency on the part of the Federal Government.
The body also called on the National Assembly to conduct an independent inquiry allegations of economic profligacy.
The NGF, after a four-hour meeting yesterday in Abuja, lamented the depleting allocation to states, even as it wondered why there is no proper documentation to show that the alleged missing $49.8 billion was paid into the Federation Account.

Amaechi, who read out the statement, stated that the missing $49.8 billion (N8.5 trillion), despite being equivalent of two years of the national budget, there is no evidence that the amount was paid into the Federation Account or duly appropriated.
“We accordingly call on the National Assembly to institute a comprehensive independent forensic audit by an international reputable firm. We fear that the recent decline of states revenue is not unconnected with the financial diversion,” he said.

NGF held that the Federal Government has breached the constitution by not seeking advice from the states before presenting the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to the National Assembly and lack of compliance to the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.
“Provisions of Section II of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 which requires the Federal Government to hold consultations with states on the MTEF and Fiscal Strategy Paper (2014-2016), did not hold. The National Economic Council meeting where issues of this nature would have been discussed last held four months ago.”
“The financial irregularities relating to public accounting, the lack of compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and the recent security breaches are not unconnected with the refusal of the Federal Government to convene meetings of statutory institutions created in the constitution such as the National Economic Council (NEC), the Council of States, the Nigeria Police Council…we urge a return to the path of constitutionalism”.
It described as disheartening, the violent attacks and killings that have taken place in Borno State, as well as the attack on the father of Kano State governor.
The body also condemned the alleged shooting of Senator Magnus Abe, saying it is a “flagrant violation of the rights of citizens to freely assemble in Rivers State by the Nigeria Police, the excessive use of force against unarmed citizens in the exercise of their fundamental rights”.