NGF Challenge Reps To Concur With Senate On Electoral Bill

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), met late Wednesday night, over National Assembly’s recommitment to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, and challenged the House of Representatives, to concur with the specific amendments of the Senate, in order to make the job of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a lot easier ahead of the next set of elections.

The governors, who commended the Senate for the quick passage of the bill and allowing different options as modes of primary elections, which they reckoned would enable INEC prepare on time for the forthcoming elections, also announced plans to engage with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) over the proposed increase in the price of fuel.

At the same time, the governors, whose meeting lasted till the early hours of this morning, secretly held a crucial meeting with the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, and some officials of the EFCC, over the management of security votes by the governors.

Chairman of the governors’ forum and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who briefed the press at exactly 12:50am today, said the senators were statesmen by their decision and therefore wanted the House to concur with the position of the Senate for the ease of INEC’s job

Governor Fayemi hinted that the governors discussed among others, the planned increase in the price of fuel, explained that they would engage the NLC and the TUC on how to address the implications of the planned fuel increase and resolve the matter peacefully.

Outcome of their discussions on the planned fuel increase to between N300 to N350 per litre would be tabled during today’s National Economic Council (NEC) to be chaired by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

Governor Fayemi also said the governors deliberated the omicron variant of covid-19 and how to reduce the effect as well as seeking more funding for the states.

According to him, the governors had received briefings from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and others that would aid the states.

The NGF chairman, who said they received briefings on the ease of doing business in the states, also confirmed their meeting with the chairman of EFCC over what he described as normal discussions.

But the meeting, which held at the instance of the NGF, was deemed crucial and sensitive by the governors, so much that they sent out all their support staff at the NGF secretariat before it commenced.

The EFCC team, led by its chairman, THISDAY gathered, considered the issue of security votes and how some governors withdrew huge sum of money in the name of security votes for their respective states without accountability

Apart from Fayemi, others at the meeting were the Governors of Anambra, Willie Obiano; Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje; Nasarawa, Abdullai Sule; Osun, Gboyega Oyetola and Oyo, Seyi Makinde.

Also in attendance were 10 deputy governors and the World Bank representative.

Head, Media and Public Affairs at the NGF Secretariat, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, had in a statement at the weekend said the meeting was at the instance of Fayemi, “where pressing national concerns will be discussed.

“To also feature prominently are the interventions programmes like the regular updates from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum SFTAS team and another on CARES, as well as a few presentations. The Governors are expected to address a press conference at the end of the meeting,” the statement stated.

The National Assembly had moved expeditiously, yesterday, following its resumption from the Christmas break on Tuesday and kept its promise to immediately revisit the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2021, which President Muhammadu Buhari declined to assent to, last month.

And in keeping faith with the mood of the nation, the National Assembly, yesterday, re-amended the proposed legislation that was passed by both chambers on November 18, 2021.

While both the Senate and the House re-amended Clause 84(2)and expunged the contentious imposition of compulsory direct primaries on parties as procedure for nomination of candidates to stand elections, they differed on the inclusion of consensus option.

The Senate, on its part, loosened the process and procedure to include direct, indirect and consensus options, the House of Representatives, which also amended Clause 84(2) in the bill only approved direct and indirect primaries as procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for the various elective positions.

With these, the option of consensus candidate, which both chambers had a differing opinion on, meant a conference committee would now be set up to harmonise both positions.

 

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