The Nigerian Governors Forum has scheduled a meeting to find a way the country can curb the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic as schools reopen across the country. 

The 36 governors across the Federation on Monday expressed alarm by the intensity of the second wave of the Coronavirus in the country and "Nigeria's tardy commencement of inoculation".

The NGF in a statement said it would be holding a virtual meeting by 2 pm on Wednesday where members would try to find the way forward for the country. 

Recall the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Services on Saturday urged the federal government to postpone Monday's school resumption by three months citing rising Covid 19 cases. 

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The committee chairman Julius Ihonvbere suggested that schools should remain closed until there is at least 75% compliance to Covid 19 protocols. 

Nigeria recorded 1444 new COVID 19 cases on Sunday, January 18 totalling the number of confirmed COVID 19 cases in the country to 110,387 with 1,435 deaths. 

Below is a copy of the statement issued by the NGF: 

Alarmed by the intensity of the second wave of the Covid19 pandemic, and Nigeria’s tardy commencement of inoculation that is sweeping through countries globally, the 36 governors of the federation may finally come up with a definitive pronouncement, as they will be meeting on Wednesday January 20 to find the way forward for the country.

The meeting which will be the first this year, 2021, by the governors, will as usual, be virtual, in conformity with the Covid19 protocols. It is the 23rd of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum teleconferences. The meeting commences at 2pm prompt but Governors are expected to start logging on from 1pm.

The Governors’ PTF Committee, headed by Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, which is charged with the responsibility of liaising between the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid19 and the Governors’ Forum, will brief the Forum on what it needs to know on the vaccines and the way forward.

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Governor Okowa is also expected to give a panoramic view of the second wave of the pandemic.

The Chairman of the Forum, and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr John Kayode Fayemi will brief the Forum on his meeting with the President as well as update the Forum on all pending matters that have remained inconclusive, flowing from the previous year’s meetings.

According to the invitation to governors issued by the Director General of the NGF Mr Asishana B Okauru, these matters include ALGON and FAAC deductions, external debts reconciliation (2002-2018), Stamp Duty collections in respect of the governors’ letter to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), and another response to the Ministry of Water Resources regarding the lingering Water Resources Bill among others. All disbursements of funds to states on the three tranches of PAYE will also be tabled.

Governors will also be updated on the States’ Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability program for results (SFTAS) for the preceding year, 2020.

As is customary, if time permits, there will be three presentations; The Water Resources minister will brief Governors on its World Bank Support; a feedback from the Federal Government on the Medium and Long Term National Development Agenda; and enhancing IGR through a harmonized Traffic Management System by Dimensions Information Technology, LLC, a non-governmental actor which is seeking the nod of state governors.

Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo

Head, Media and Public Affairs

Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat

+234(0)9 2920025; (0)9 2920026

+234 (0) 08039567128, +234 08056180060

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