The 36 state governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have expressed optimism that the disbursement of other available funds that will help close the financing gap created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is also including the $100 million COVID-19 support from the World Bank and the N1 billion to each state from the Federal Government to fund health mitigation measures and infrastructure refunds for the Federal Government roads constructed or rehabilitated by state governments.
The governors stated this at the 13th teleconference meeting chaired by Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, according to the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, expressed that support for the autonomy of the judiciary and the legislature.
At the meeting, the NGF Chairman briefed his contemporaries on the forum’s collaboration with the EU/UN Spotlight Initiative and partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on sexual violence and protection for women and children.
He assured that the new partnership was aimed at strengthening actions kickstarted by state governments following the declaration of a state of emergency on Sexual and Gender-based Violence by the forum at its meeting of 10th of June 2020, and the willingness of members to engage in the development of a national post-COVID-19 blueprint.
The communique read: “A new partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) aimed at strengthening the implementation of the programme and economic opportunities for smallholder farmers in all states.