The People’s Democratic Party, PDP Governors Forum says, the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government is uncaring and insensitive and has become a menace to Nigeria.
As a result, therefore, must take steps to cooperate with states to bring security down to the grassroots.
Arising from its regular meeting on Wednesday, held at Aba, Abia State, they reviewed the excruciating hardship and suffering being meted out to Nigerians by “a failed APC-led Federal Government, the near-collapse of the APC as a viable political party, and the readiness of the PDP to take over and offer qualitative leadership options to rescue the nation.
In a communique they issued, the Forum urged Nigerians to reject the APC, as one “run undemocratically by a Committee contrary to the Constitution (S.228) with Mr President regularly issuing instructions and dictates”, adding “It is impossible for a party so disorganized to offer good governance to the people of Nigeria.”
They further stated, “We lament the terrible pain and hardship facing Nigerians in virtually all aspects of life”, noting “life was much better in 2015 under the PDP than today under the APC” as exemplified in the comparative Indicators obtained mainly from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
These are in the area of the rising cost of commodities and basic food items, including fuel and allied products, “collapse of the National Grid (126 times in 7 years (June 2015 to March 2022) and its consequences for non-availability of power,” unemployment poverty rate, accumulated Inflation, debt and Debt Servicing, Corruption Index, and Nigeria’s Misery Index.
“Domestic Debt of N8.4T and External Debt of USD7.3bn was incurred between 1999-2015, while Domestic Debt of N7.63Tr (June 2015-Dec 2020) and USD28.57bn as at Dec 2020 was incurred and external debt of USD21.27bn was incurred between June 2015 and 2021.
“National Debt to GDP ratio was 23.41% (2016) it is now 36.88% (2022).”
They noted the major threat to the agricultural sector and food security in Nigeria is insecurity, stating “In the northeast of Nigeria, it is estimated that no fewer than 70,000 hectares of arable farmland have been abandoned in the affected States and Local Government areas. The trend is the same all over the country. This further contributes to food inflation. The APC led Federal Government must take steps to cooperate with States to bring security down to the grassroots.”
The forum is surprised that in the face of these statistics of complete failure in all ramifications and areas, “the APC still wants to be on the ballot in 2023. This shows how uncaring and insensitive the APC is. It has become a menace to Nigeria.”
The meeting further expressed its concern and alarm over various reports and claims of incidents of stealing crude oil ranging from 80% to 95% of the production made by industry practitioners and called on the Federal Government to set up an appropriate mechanism to reverse this trend and bring perpetrators to account.
They also decried the inability of the NNPC to make its statutory contributions to the Federation Account, in spite of oil selling at above $110, adding “It is patently unconstitutional for NNPC to determine at its whim and discretion when and what to pay to the Federation Account, as it is a mere trustee of the funds for the three tiers of Government: Federal, States and Local Governments.
“We once again, call for investigations and audit of the quantity of consumption of fuel ascribed to Nigerians and for the deployment of technology at the filling stations to determine in a transparent manner the volume of consumption.”
They resolved to resist any further attempt by NNPC to ascribe unsubstantiated subsidy claims to other tiers of government.
They observed “As of today, 18 (Eighteen) Federation Revenue Agencies are not paying/remitting any revenue to the FAAC Account. These include (i) Central Bank of Nigeria (ii) Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) (iii) Nigeria Liquefied National Gas (NLNG) (iv) Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) (v) Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) (vi) NPA (vii) Security and Exchange Commission etc.
“FIRS and DPR take the cost of collection of 4% (Four per cent) of Revenue collected while Customs collects 7%. In March 2022 for instance, FIRS took N15.4Billion as the cost of collection and Customs took N8.4b. If these are annualised, FIRS and Customs collect about N1.84Billion and Customs N100B per annum. Obviously, some states of the Federation’s capital budget does not come close to these.
“Nigeria Federation has 49% shareholding in NLNG. According to the Minister of Finance during the 2020 budget performance brief at the National Assembly stated that the federation received a dividend of N144billion (One Hundred and Forty-Four Billion) from NLNG. These figures to the best of our knowledge was never paid into the Federation Account.
“NNPC deducts N8.33Billion monthly for the rehabilitation of the Refineries in Nigeria. Till date no refinery is working.”
“On priority projects of the Nation’s oil industry, NNPC deducted N788.78Billion for various investments between 2018-2021 without recourse to FAAC.
“NNPC in 2021 alone claimed to have paid over One Trillion Naira as petroleum subsidy. Indeed, in the month of March 2022, N220billion was deducted as oil subsidy with a promise that N328Billion will be deducted in April 2022. This is unacceptable.
“NNPC and FIRS, as well as other remitting Agencies, continue to apply an exchange rate of N389/$1 as against the Import and Export window of N416/$1. The extent of this leakage can be better felt if this rate is compared to the current N570/$1.
“From available records about N7.6T is withheld between 2012 and 2021, by NNPC from the Federation Account. All these are said to be payments for oil subsidy.”
The Forum expressed its belief that all these leakages in NNPC have been made possible because the President is also the Minister of Petroleum, hence “The urgent separation of these two portfolios have become necessary.
Finally, the forum noted the approval by the PDP NEC of the Time Table and Timelines for Congresses and Convention of the party and urged all party members and party leadership to remain focused and united to win power in 2023, to tackle the myriads of problems facing the country.
Thirteen governors were in attendance.
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