‘CBN Operating Without Control,’ – PDP Wants Govs To Check Deductions, Spending By Revenue Agencies

At least thirteen governors of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday, met over what they described as the worsening economic, political, security and social state of affairs in Nigeria.

The governors met at the Akwa Ibom State government house in Uyo, where they accused some Federal Government agencies of contributing to the poor living conditions of citizens.

In a 14-point communique they issued after their meeting, the governors said some government agencies and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were operating outside the law that established them as revenue generating agencies and the country’s monetary authority, respectively.

The governors said the CBN had become a “father Christmas” as it allegedly “creates” and spends money without control or supervision.

At the meeting presided over by the PDP Governors Forum Chairman, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, the governors also called out other revenue generating agencies for not doing enough to help the federal government generate revenue.

The PDP governors called on, “…agencies of Government such as Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Federal Inland Revenue Services, Customs and Excise and similar organisations that are statutorily required to make contributions into the Federation Account, to do more. The federating States should, going forward now have a say in the determination of operating costs to ensure transparency and accountability. The meeting called for urgent steps to reverse these ugly trends in our practice of democracy, constitutionalism and Federalism.

The governors also, “expressed deep concerns on the operational system and methods of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). It viewed with regrets that the CBN is operating as an independent government within a Government, which is a pervasion of the autonomy of the Bank. A situation where CBN creates money, decides how much of it to spend, on what to spend it on without any form of controls or supervision is patently subversive of our constitutional order. It has become not just a LEVIATHAN, but also a father Christmas of sorts, dabbling into every sphere and scope of governmental activity, not just as a lender of last resort, but as a full executing agency of government. The meeting observed that the CBN has become such an octopus that it threatens State governments publicly, without decorum, about sanctions on any attempt to question its MODUS OPERANDI. The CBN should take immediate steps to halt the depreciation of the Naira.”

The communiqué noted that, “The PDP Governors frowned at the rising and seemingly uncontrollable debt profile of Nigeria with over 80% of normal Appropriation spent on debt servicing. All the gains of the PDP Government under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, where Nigeria exited its foreign debt obligations has been destroyed. Borrowing for frivolous items such as funding the Nigerian Television Authority is scandalous. Money should only be borrowed for productive purposes as Nigeria’s current debt of over N36 Trillion Naira is becoming clearly unsustainable relative to our earnings and GDP. We should not saddle incoming generations with undue debt burden. The borrowing spree of the APC administration if unchecked, will certainly lead Nigeria into avoidable bankruptcy.

“The Forum reiterated its call, which seem to have fallen on deaf ears, for the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to URGENTLY SEND the revised Revenue Allocation Formular to Mr President for onward transmission to the National Assembly for enactment, such that more resources are made available to States and Local Governments where ordinary Nigerians reside. It called on the Chairman and Members of the Commission to RESIGN or be relieved of their duties, if they cannot discharge this sacred constitutional duty entrusted by the Nigerian people to it. The present constitutional amendment process should make the Commission more independent and accountable to all stakeholders.”

The PDP governors also declared support for ongoing calls for the implementation of judicial and legislative autonomy.

They also called on the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to “exercise power with restraint”, saying its recent actions constitute a threat to the country’s democracy, constitutionalism and rule of law.

“The meeting examined the suspension of TWITTER from operating in Nigeria, and condemned the personalised reasons given for the action. The mere ego of Mr President is not enough for such a drastic action that deprives millions of Nigerians from such an affordable means of expression and communication. We hope that this is not a harbinger or early warning signs of descent into dictatorship.

“The meeting noted that social media regulation can only be done within the existing laws on the subject and should not be used as an attempt to punish or gag Nigerians from enjoying constitutionally guaranteed rights. Nigerian youths do not have adequate access to employment and a lot of Nigerians rely on TWITTER for their livehood, businesses and self-employment. This will further worsen Nigeria’s 33% unemployment rate which is the highest in the world, improve Nigerias ranking as the country with second highest poverty rate in the entire world, all of which happened under APC’s unfortunate stewardship. The meeting consequently requested Mr President to review the suspension of TWITTER operations in Nigeria in the national interest,” they said.

The PDP governors further urged the ruling All Progressives Congress to “think outside the box and find solutions to the challenges facing electricity supply in Nigeria.”

On how to address the nation’s worsening insecurity, the forum reiterated the need to “decentralise the operations of the security apparatus of state even within the existing legal framework, to ensure the input of local operators in State and Local Governments in policing and security.”

The PDP Governors also faulted President Buhari on his recent statement that governors should address the security challenges facing their respective states and not wait for him.

Buhari had in a recent Arise TV interview said, “You cannot just go around and win election and the sit tight and expect somebody to do their job from them”

But responding, the PDP governors said the president, “seem not to be aware that the coercive instruments of State security is firmly within his hands and not the Governors, considering his recent media interview on the subject,” adding that, “…Mr. President that he has ultimate authority under the Constitution over security organisations, even though the States have a role to play. Cooperation and synergy between States and the Federal Government in security operations is critical in securing Nigeria. In any case, even though, Police is on the Exclusive List, the States, as a practical matter spend huge sums of money to support the security agencies to carry out their duties. The need for an appropriate legal framework to involve the States in policing has become even more urgent by the day. To this end we reiterate our call for the National Assembly to expedite action in passing the Electoral Act and Constitution amendments to ensure restructuring and decentralisation of governmental powers and functions.”

The meeting had in attendance, Governors Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, Nyesom Wike of Rivers and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.

Others were Governors Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa Godwin Obaseki of Edo, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Darius Ishaku of Taraba and Zamfara State Deputy Governor, Mahdi Mohd.