State governors meet Tuesday with EFCC, FIRS, CBN on security votes

Governors of the 36 states under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum will on Tuesday April 04 meet with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) on states security votes.

The meeting meant to thrash thorny issues around security votes allocated to states will also be attended by the heads of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

A statement signed by the NGF Director, Media Affairs, AbdulRazaque Bello-Barkindo, said the meeting would take place virtually.

It quoted the Director- General of the NGF, Asishana Bayo Okauru, as listing the agencies expected to be at the meeting

Security vote is a monthly allocation given to state governments for improved security.

The statement read, “Governors of the 36 states of the federation are to meet with all the economic and financial agencies in the country, with a view to ironing out thorny issues surrounding their states’ security votes, towards establishing a better option of managing the funds.

“The meeting, which is to take place on Tuesday April 4, according to an invitation issued by the Director General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr. Asishana Bayo Okauru, will be virtual, to ensure full attendance by all the relevant officers in the matter.

“Those invited to the meeting include the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

“Furthermore, the meeting will also consider deepening the management and expansion of the cashless policy which took effect from the time of the redesigning of the national currency, the Nigerian Naira, last year, to further the financial inclusion of all citizens in the ensuing scheme of things, going forward.

“This meeting is called at the instance of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, in its letter of 30th March, which was addressed to the Chairman of the NGF and signed by the NFIU Director, Modibbo Hamman Tukur.”