The Northeast governors have agreed to enhance human capital development through education so as to address deficit in the sub-region.
This was disclosed in a 13 point communique issued at the end of their meeting in Yola, the Adamawa state capital.
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The governors promised to take stringent measures to regularise the standard of education in their respective states.
“Forum critically examine the challenges of education in the sub-region and resolve to adopt a regional approach by being deliberate in transforming education especially at the basic level”
“Forum has agreed to form the North-east council on education and enforce UBEC laws to protect and ensure all children have an opportunity to acquire basic education,” the communique stated.
On security, the governors said there is relative improvement, regarding the activities of kidnappers, cattle rustlers, bandits and Book Haram who are a serious threat to the development of the regions.
“Forum noted that there is relative improvement in security situation in the sub-region however the activities of Boko Haram, bandits, cattle rustling and kidnappers are still constituting threat to sustainable development.”
“While the forum commends the effort of the security agencies, in the sub-region it intends to strengthen community policing and action to complement their efforts.”
Frown at Infrastructural deficit
The six northeastern governors frowned at the federal government’s attitude towards provision of infrastructure in the budget explaining that the proposed 2021 budget, the federal government only made provision of a paltry N45.32 billion for infrastructural development in the northeastern part.
“Forum notes with dismay that despite the challenges of development especially the infrastructural deficit in the north east, the 2021 proposed federal government budget makes provision only for N45.32bn for capital projects in the sub-region. This represents a paltry 0.35 percent of the proposed N13.02trn.”
“This means that north east is highly shortchanged. Forum demands national assembly to review the 2021 budget in the spirit of equity and inclusion.
“It equally mandates the north east caucus of both the senate and house of reps to take steps to redress the imbalance.
“Forum noted that the sub-region has been unfairly treated in the provision of road infrastructure by the federal ministry of works and housing and further noted with dismay the slow or outright non existent progress on the phase of roads already allocated in the sub-region and call for immediate reactivation and review of existing road contracts in the sub-region,” the communique added.
Zero budget for Mambila hydro power project
The governors decry lack of budgetary provision in the Mambila hydro project in the 2021 budgetary proposal and urged the federal government to make the project a serious priority and resolve all matters around the project and to order action on the region.
The 14th March, 2021 is fixed for the next meeting in Bauchi state.
