Governors demand security reforms, berate U.S over ‘fraudulent adoption of Nigerian children’
Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has called on the Federal Government to initiate major reforms in the country’s security architecture.
The Nigerian state governors also berated the United States Mission in Nigeria over what they called the ‘illegal and fraudulent inter-country adoption of Nigerian children by United States citizens.
The governors who made the call at the just-concluded virtual meeting of the group, also highlighted the critical need to amend the 1999 Constitution for the establishment of state police forces, while further maintaining that these resolutions would correct a fundamental flaw in the current national security system.
Forum’s Chairman and Kwara State governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, said the Governors highlighted the need for State policing as a critical amendment in the ongoing 1999 Constitutional Amendment proceedings to correct a fundamental flaw in the National Security architecture.
According to NGF chairman, other issues discussed was the growing concern raised by the United States Embassy over illegal and fraudulent inter-country adoption of Nigerian children by United States citizens ‘including systemic fraud and corruption, child-buying, the imprisonment of pregnant women and unreliable or non-existent documentation.’
“Members pledged to engage the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government in a bid to address the situation,” he said.
The Governors commiserated with Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori over the recent deadly communal clash between Okuama and Okolaba communities, which claimed the lives of 16 military personnel, among others.
They also condemned the violence and held a moment of silence for the victims.
On issue of national minimum wage review, the NGF urged the National Minimum Wage Committee to consider the current economic realities, the financial capacities of both State governments and Private employers and to rely on data-driven, evidence-based proposals.
Members further reviewed the progress of the National Minimum Wage Committee (NMWC) and ongoing multi-stakeholder engagements towards agreeing on a fair minimum wage calling on the NMWC to consider the current realities, individual State peculiarities and consequential impact on the capacity of the government as well as private sector employers to pay.
They emphasised on the progress made by States in implementing various business enabling reforms including those aimed at improving land administration, Public Private Partnership (PPP), investment promotion frameworks, business-enabling infrastructure and regulatory environment under the World Bank supported State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Program for Result.
On health issues, the Forum received an update from the NGF Senior Health Advisor, Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab on the Health Sector Renewal Compact, the next round of the Primary Health Care (PHC) Leadership Challenge and the UNICEF Child Nutrition Fund.
Members restated their commitment to delivering requisite actions and reforms to achieve the objectives of the various initiatives.
