The governors of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have called on the Federal Government to distinctly separate the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) from that of the Accountant General of the Federal Government of Nigeria (AGFGN).
In a communiqué issued at the conclusion of the forum’s 4th regular monthly meeting of 2024, held at the Government House in Jalingo, Taraba State, on Friday, the PDP governors expressed deep concern over the Federal Government’s ongoing refusal to differentiate between the revenue of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and that accruing to the Federation. They emphasized that such revenues must be allocated according to existing laws.
Speaking on behalf of the forum, Senator Bala Mohammed, Chairman of the forum and Governor of Bauchi State, stated, “We call on the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation to be more transparent in obeying the law, particularly sections 162 (1), (2), and (3) of the Constitution.”
The communiqué further urged the Accountant General of the Federation to cease acting as though they were the Accountant General of the Federal Government and to perform their duties in accordance with the Constitution. “We call for the separation of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation from that of the Accountant General of the FGN,” Senator Mohammed added.
Addressing the political standoff between former Governor Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara in Rivers State, the forum reiterated its support for Governor Fubara. It called on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to revisit the issue and rectify the situation, allowing Governor Fubara to assume his rightful leadership position within the party in the state.
Regarding the upcoming governorship election in Edo State, the governors condemned alleged remarks by the President that suggested an intention to compromise the election in favor of his party. They also decried the reported systematic intimidation of PDP supporters by the Nigeria Police, urging the Inspector General of Police to ensure that his officers maintain impartiality.
The forum expressed relief at the resolution of the #EndBadGovernance protests, which had threatened to escalate into a major national crisis. The governors commended the PDP governors in particular for their mature handling of the situation in their respective states, preventing hoodlums and other unscrupulous elements from hijacking the protests.
However, the governors extended their condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during the protests and called on the Federal Government to ensure a fair and speedy trial for those arrested.
The forum also reaffirmed that peaceful protests are an inalienable right of citizens to express their grievances. They criticized the Federal Government for resorting to blackmail rather than reviewing macro-economic and social policies to address the concerns of the people.
“We call on Mr. President to demonstrate statesmanship by restraining his officials from engaging in blame games that unfairly portray the sub-national governments in a negative light. Citing piecemeal interventions that fail to address the root problems does not help. We remain steadfast in our commitment to stand with the suffering Nigerian masses and to take all legitimate steps to alleviate their plight,” the governors concluded.
