Gov. Amaechi, Gov. Fashola, others Draw up Governors’ Retirement Benefits

The Amaechi-led Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has promised to make objective recommendation for governors retirement benefits.

This is part of resolutions adopted at the 4th Retreat of the forum in Port Harcourt, Rivers state yesterday, Friday 6 June.

Amaechi read the communiqué at the end of the retreat which had health and youth unemployment and transition – life after office prospects and challenges as its major focus.

The communiqué said the governors would henceforth focus more attention on ensuring good governance and service delivery in the remaining period of their tenure.

It said that the focus became necessary because whatever happened in the last year of a governor’s tenure could make or mar his record of performance in office.

The governors promised to place more emphasis on making primary health care more accessible to patients, by putting in place a system which would make them utilize health facilities closer to them.

The governors would make it a priority to provide universal primary healthcare to all citizens and ensure its sustainability and affordability.

On youth unemployment, the governors said they would make provisions for and support infrastructure necessary for speedy broadband and internet connections.

This, the governors stressed, would ensure that youths in particular and Nigerians generally participated massively in wealth to be made from the knowledge-based economy.

They also resolved to use their position in the National Economic Council (NEC) to press for low interest rate and enforcement of import policies and collection of customs duties.

They also promised to adopt investment for poverty reduction and employment strategies by emphasising policies that would generate employment at local levels.

Amaechi commended the forum’s secretariat staff, under his chairmanship, for preparation of a transition guide book for governors.

Governors at the retreat hosted by Amaechi were governors of Kano, Imo, Adamawa, Lagos, Sokoto, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Nasarawa and Edo states.

Former President of Liberian, Prof. Amos Sawyer, former Governor of Kwara, Bukola Saraki, former Minister of FCT, Malam Nasir el Rurai, Prof Oyewole Owolabi and Prof Oyewale Tomori were also present at the retreat.

NGF, the umbrella association for all elected governors, became factionalized on March 26, 2013 after its chairmanship election.