Governors of the 36 states of the federation are to meet tomorrow with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, on how to manage their states’ security votes.
Attempts to get governors to react to the implication of the meeting for their states last night proved abortive, as those contacted remained evasive. But a few of the governors, especially those of Osun and Benue, said they were for anything that would enhance good governance in states in particular and Nigeria generally.
The meeting, coming at the instance of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, and slated for tomorrow, April 4, will also have in attendance the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. According to a statement by the Director, Media Affairs, Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, AbdulRazaque Bello-Barkindo yesterday, the meeting will take place virtually.
‘Controversy around security vote’ Security vote, which has been a source of conroversy in the country, especially as no accountability is rendered, with regards to spending, is a monthly allocation given to state governments for improved security in their domain. According to Wikipedia, the security vote is allocated to the 36 states for the sole purpose of funding security services within such states, and the amount allocated is determined by the level of security in individual states.
The statement read: “Governors of the 36 states of the federation are to meet with all the economic and financial agencies in the country, to iron out thorny issues surrounding their states’ security votes, towards establishing a better option of managing the funds.
“The meeting, which is to take place on Tuesday, April 4, according to an invitation issued by the Director General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr Asishana Bayo Okauru, will be virtual, to ensure full attendance by all the relevant officers in the matter. “Those invited to the meeting include the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
“Furthermore, the meeting will also consider deepening the management and expansion of the cashless policy which took effect from the time of the redesigning of the national currency, the Nigerian Naira, last year, to further the financial inclusion of all citizens in the ensuing scheme of things, going forward. Meeting at NFIU’s instance “This meeting is called at the instance of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, in its letter of March 30, which was addressed to the chairman of the NGF and signed by the NFIU Director, Modibbo Hamman Tukur.
