Twenty four governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday in Abuja have made a vow to implement their party’s manifesto with less than two years remaining on their mandates.
The governors have resolved to forward three executive bills to their respective State Houses of Assembly that would pave way for the creation of security trust funds in all the states, setting up of collection and administration of revenue boards, as well as the implementation of free compulsory education for citizens.
The three bills are titled Security Trust Fund, Collection and Administration of Revenue, and Universal Basic Education (UBE).
The Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), Governor Rochas Okoroacha of Imo State who was represented by his deputy, Prince Eze Madumere told newsmen that the moves were part of measures to ensure that the policy initiatives of APC states were equally implemented and sustained in APC controlled states.
He said that the moves would speed up the institutionalisation of common legal frameworks for adoption and subsequent implementation through legislation across APC states.
According to him, “State Security Coordinating Committee and Trust Fund for the States, is aimed at providing a robust, strategic, participatory and community grounded security architecture as a solution to the myriad of security challenges facing the Federal and State Governments.
“Security is also central to the realisation of the ideals of social justice, which is the cardinal anchor of the programme of the current government.
“Without adequate security, investors will be very reluctant to invest. Without adequate security, the people may not realise their full potentials.”
He added that to survive the current economic realities and sustain healthy internal revenue base, states must design creative, aggressive and robust ways and mechanisms of raising their revenue profile.
Okoroacha said that the prototype bill was targeted at achieving the above, adding that it would help the states restrategize in the identification of their internal revenue base, mapping out of the base and collecting data on business and areas that could shore up the internal revenue base of the state.
“The prototype bill on compulsory, free universal education addresses issues of refusal to send pupils to school, charging fees and levies in public schools, membership of Universal Basic Education Commission, financing of the universal basic education, qualification to access funding,” he added.
Giving further clarification on the new moves, the Imo Governor explained that the implementation of the laws in APC state would differentiate the party from other parties.
He said “this will differentiate us from PDP or any other party. It is like US where Republicans and Democrats are known for their ideological leanings, APC will be known for the ideology it stands for”.
He said though the bills were being initiated now, some APC states like Lagos were already implementing security trust funds. He explained that each state would raise resources according to its revenue generating capacity.
Governors of Oyo and Katsina, Abiola Ajimobi and Bello Aminu Masari were represented by Moses Alake Adeyemo (Deputy Gov, Oyo) Ahmad Usman El-Marzuo, (Commissioner of Justice in Katsina State) while Mr. Ismaila Kamba, Speaker of Kebbi State House of Assembly, represented other Speakers of APC-led states at the press briefing.