NGF Berates Presidency Over Frequent Shift Of NEC Meetings

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) yesterday, said it was worried at the frequent postponement of National Economic Council (NEC) meetings.
The Forum, under the chairmanship of Rivers State Governor, Chibuike  Rotimi Amaechi, stated this at its meeting which ended in the early hours of yesterday in Abuja.
Amaechi, who read the communiqué of the meeting to newsmen, said the Forum noted that the NEC meeting had been postponed for five consecutive months without reasons.
This, it noted, was usually done when the governors would have arrived Abuja for the meeting.
“As co-managers of the Nigerian economy, the Forum expresses deep disappointment at yet another postponement of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting.
“The Forum is concerned that a pattern is emerging where the NEC meeting has been postponed for five consecutive months.
“It has become disturbing that governors are invited to Abuja for NEC meeting only to be told of its cancellation usually on the eve of the meeting after the arrival of the governors and without any reason,’’ Amaechi said.
It added that the development was regrettable because there were issues of urgent and utmost national importance that ought to have been addressed at the NEC meeting.
Amaechi noted that the 2014 budget was done without input from states, which, according to him, resulted to a lack of sense of ownership of the budget process.
The Forum also said it was concerned with the development in Rivers state with regards to controversies concerning the deployment of police to the state.
“It, therefore, enjoined President Goodluck Jonathan to call a meeting of the Police Council to discuss the issue and other related issues,’’ said the chairman.
Meanwhile, Amaechi said that the Forum had resolved to hold a special retreat in Lagos in March, in furtherance to the implementation of its strategic plan.
He added that it had reviewed extensively the draft of its 2013-2015 strategic plans and agreed to a series of steps on its vision, mission and objectives.

Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari (left), listening to Mr Obele Chu of RSTV, during the 2014 annual thanksgiving service of the ministry at All Saints Cathedral, Rumukwurusi, Port Harcourt, last Sunday. With her is the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Cordelia Peterside