The North-east Governors’ Forum has resolved to set up a Joint Task Force to ensure the protection of Schools in the region, in view of the disturbing problem of school abductions.
They reached the resolution at the fourth meeting of the group in Bauchi, where they also supported the idea of community policing to address security challenges.
The meeting’s communique presented by the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri said the Governors agreed to establish a Council on Education with the mandate to improve quality and performance, as well as set up a peer review mechanism.
Fintiri who is also the Vice Chair of the forum said they was need to be aggressive in repositioning education in the sub-region.
The Governors said the zone required aggressive infrastructure intervention to defeat insurgency and build the resilience of the affected communities, but that they were concerned over what they describes as being shortchanged in capital appropriation in the 2021 budget, despite the precarious situation of the area.
The forum however commended the selection of some roads in the sub-region to benefit from the Presidential Executive Order 07, but appealed that governments in the sub-region be consulted first before embarking on such projects.
”The forum had discussions with the British High Commissioner to Nigeria and the Great Green Wall resolved to work with the UK Government on beneficial areas without compromising the sovereignty of the federal Government,” Fintiri said.
The Forum appealed to the Great Green Wall to develop a framework for regional and State partnership for maximum impact.
While reiterating support to the North-east Development Commission, the Governors urged the Agency to fast track the process of developing a master plan for its activities and cooperate with states in closing the needs gap.
Oil exploration
They also considered the prospects of oil exploration in the region and resolved to have specialised institutions to provide the required local content and commended Bauchi and Gombe States who have taken the lead in establishing Oil and Gas Academy for human capital development.
The meeting also express disappointment with the pace of work on a critical infrastructure like the Mambilla hydroelectric power project, which it said existed only on paper.
It therefore urged the Nigerian Government to show the desired seriousness in view of its anticipated impact in turning around the fortunes of the sub-region and the country at large.
The next meeting of the North-east Governors Forum is to hold in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital on 2nd June, 2021.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
