The Northern States Governors’ Forum is holding a meeting to review and also receive updates on the progress made so far on issues addressing insecurity which was discussed in it’s last meeting.
According to the Chairman of the Forum, Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, they will be discussing on how far the region has gone in tackling banditry, kidnapping, as well as charting a way forward.
The meeting which has the Northern traditional Chairmen in attendance, will look critically at some national issues that have emerged over the recent ones with a view to coming up with a position as well as adopting the best possible approach to ensure that the interest of the region is promoted and protected.
The meeting which is being held in Kaduna will also deliberate on the value added tax collection and the controversies surrounding the VAT.
Governor Lalong said the meeting will afford them the opportunity to look into various issues closely and appealed to members to contribute meaningfully to discussions.
“Today’s meeting will deliberate on the issues discussed at the previous meeting involving insecurity, enhancing socio economic property of the people, addressing humanitarian challenges of internally displaced persons, building synergy with the Federal government and other counterparts”.
The forum will also discuss the reports submitted by various committees and will resolve to look into them for implementation.
Earlier, the host, Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai said, they were holding an emergency meeting to discuss the challenges facing the region, the economic situation affecting it, insecurity that has destroyed the rural economy and many other challenges concerning federalism steering the region in the face.
He said it is because of the challenges that the Chairman of the forum conveyed all of them for deliberation and to also tap their collective wisdom to chart a way forward for the 19 northern states.
In his speech, the Chairman, Northern Traditional Leaders Forum, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar said, by the large turn out of participants at the meeting, it is a testimony that both the 19 Northern Governors and Emirs, including the FCT are committed to finding lasting solutions to the issues affecting the region.
He assured that all the Northern Traditional Leaders are ever ready to answer the call of their Governors when the need arises to discuss issue bothering the region.
