The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) says states will clear
all outstanding pension liabilities after the removal of fuel subsidy in 2022.
The governors’ forum said this at its 36th teleconference
meeting on Wednesday.
The federal government had said that it would end fuel
subsidy by 2022 and replace it with a N5000-a-month transportation grant to the
poorest Nigerians.
In a communique released after the meeting, Kayode Fayemi,
chairman of NGF and governor of Ekiti, said the governors have resolved to
include settlement of all outstanding pension obligations as part of the social
compact with citizens for the removal of fuel subsidy.
Fayemi further affirmed governors’ support for the federal
government’s transport palliative scheme.
“On the strategy to build a sustainable Contributory Pension
Scheme (CPS) for State Governments that will also be capable of clearing
outstanding pension liabilities, members listened to a presentation by the
Chief Executive of AVA Capital, Mr Kayode Falasinnu, and resolved that the
settlement of all outstanding pension obligations should be included as part of
the social compact with citizens for the removal of fuel subsidies,” the
communique reads.
“With respect to the required legal and institutional
changes required to facilitate a successful CPS transition in all States, State
Commissioners of Finance will be mandated to ensure that States meet the
guidelines for the implementation of Contributory Pension Schemes by State
Governments, including the enactment of a pension law, the establishment of a
pension board and the adoption of a transition framework for each State.”
The forum also said it would review the ongoing move by the
federal government to privatise 10 power plants located across the country.
It described the power plants as “critical national assets”.
It said the 36 state governments currently hold 53 percent
equity while the FG holds 47 percent equity in the ten power plants.
“On the proposed privatization of the 10 generating plants
located across the country under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs),
members received a detailed presentation by the Director-General of the Bureau
of Public Enterprises, Mr. Alex A. Okoh, and resolved to review and communicate
through their board representatives, their assessment and position on the
privatization of what they consider critical national assets,” the communique
adds.
“States currently own
a total of 53% equity in NIPPs while the Federal Government owns a 47% stake.
“On the National Social Register and the Rapid Response
Register as critical tools for rolling out cash transfer programs, members
received a presentation from the National Coordinator of the National Social
Safety Nets Coordinating Office, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs,
Disaster Management and Social Development, Mr. Iorwa Apera.”
According to the communique, the governors also listened to
Shubham Chaudhuri, World Bank’s country director for Nigeria, on the rollout of
a World Bank-financed $800 million facility designed to fund a large-scale
conditional cash transfer (CCT) program in the country.
The forum, thereafter, decided that each state governor will
establish and chair a steering committee to oversee the conditional cash
transfer (CCT) initiative.
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