Nigeria’s Thirty-six State Governors say they have resolved to explore all legal means in ensuring that the US$ 418 million Paris Club Refund, meant for states is not unjustly, or illegally paid to a few individuals, in the guise of consultancies.
The resolution was reached at the 8th Teleconference Meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, held on Tuesday.
According to a communique signed by the Chairman of the Forum, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, the forum will ensure that justice is done on the matter.
The Paris Club Refund has been a subject of litigation between the state governors and the Federal Government, following the involvement of consultants in the retrieval of the fund from where it was domiciled.
The Federal High Court in Abuja had on September 21 2022, set aside a consent judgement, given in favour of a company, Panic Alert Security Systems, (PASS), Limited, for its acclaimed roles in the recovery of the Paris Club refund.
In what appears like a showdown with the Federal Government, on issues bothering state governments’ interests, The Governors’ Forum also said that it expects the Federal Government to respect the interlocutory order of a High Court, restraining it from proceeding with the sale of the Niger Delta Power Holdings Company Limited, NDPHCL.
Also, Read ; $418m Paris Club Refund: Govs deny receiving money to fund elections
The NDPHCL is one of the ten National Integrated Power Projects, (NIPPs), that is generating tension between the two tiers of government, following plans of privatisation by the Federal Government.
The governors also said that sequel to discussions between sub-sovereigns at the recently concluded 2nd African sub-sovereigns Government Network (AfSNET) Conference, the Forum agreed to pursue through its membership on the forum of Regions of Africa, (FORAF), and its partnership with the African Export-Import Bank, support for enhanced dialogue, cooperation, and collaboration between sub-sovereign governments around intra-African trade, investment, industrialisation and development.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
