In a communique issued after its meeting in Yola yesterday, the northeast governors have lamented the Federal Government’s failure to allocate any amount for the ongoing strategic Mambilla hydroelectric power project.
They describe the attitude as suggestive of total neglect of the zone.
The meeting presided over by its chairman, Governor Babagana Umar Zulum therefore calls on the national assembly to intervene by reviewing the budget where the zone is involved.
The forum also appeals to the federal government to avoid the tendency of allocating projects to the zone without prior consultations with the stakeholders.
They explain that, changing the attitude is what would guarantee accountability and attainment of the desired impact.
The meeting is also particular about the way and manner the federal ministry of works and housing has been slow or even abandoning some road projects allocated to the region, calling for immediate reactivation and review of some of the extant contracts.
In the same vein, the forum calls on the federal government to treat the zone with equity and fairness in the distribution of the N2.3 trillion Covid-19 economic stimulus package in the face of the region’s prevailing socio-economic challenges.
On even development of the zone, the meeting recognized the need for sub-regional integration of the component states, by appointing special advisers on regional integration in treating what they call, cross-cutting issues that could be of mutual benefits.
The forum calls on the
North East Development Commission, to expedite action in working out the proposed Northeast strategic master plan, to facilitate sustainable development of the zone.
The meeting also captures issue of gender-based violence as a major public nuisance, seeking the governors in the zone to without further delay domesticate the extant violence against persons prohibition Act of 2015, for rapid dispensation of justice on such matters.
The governors reaffirm commitment to enforce UBEC Law to protect and ensure that all eligible children in the zone exploit available basic educational opportunities, including filling all admission quotas in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
They also resolve to adopt regional approach to handling the sector of education by being deliberate in transforming it, especially at the basic level, hence they agree to form Northeast council on education.
The meeting, according to the communique, then resolves to engage services of Arewa Research and Development Project (ARDP) consultancy firm, to provide the zone with technical support in key areas such as agriculture and education.
The governors are to meet again between March 3rd and 4th, 2021, in Bauchi.
