State Govs to meet EFCC, ICPC, others on security votes

Governors of the 36 states of the federation are to meet tomorrow with economic and financial agencies in the country, over the management of their states’ security votes.

Security vote, which has been a source of conroversy in the country, especially as no accountability is rendered, with regards to spending, is a monthly allocation given to state governments for improved security in their domain.

According to a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRazaque Bello-Barkindo, the meeting will take place virtually on Tuesday.

Agencies expected to be at 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 (F-I-R-S) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

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The meeting also aims to facilitate financial inclusion and development which will put Nigeria on the same pedestal as advanced countries.

The statement read: “Governors of the 36 states of the federation are to meet with all the economic and financial agencies in the country, to iron 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 March 30, which was addressed to the chairman of the NGF and signed by the NFIU Director, Modibbo Hamman Tukur.