Twenty
four governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC), have resolved to forward three executive bills to their
respective State Houses of Assembly that would pave way for the creation
of security trust funds in all the states.....
Setting up of collection and
administration of revenue boards, as well as implementation of free
compulsory education for citizens, Governor Roachas Okoroacha of Imo
State said in Abuja on Friday.
The three bills are titled Security Trust Fund, Collection and Administration of Revenue, and Universal Basic Education (UBE).
The
Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), who was
represented by his deputy, Prince Eze Madumere told newsmen that the
moves were part of measures to ensure that policy initiatives of APC
states were equally implemented and sustained in APC controlled states.
He
said that the moves would speed up the institutionalisation of common
legal frameworks for adoption and subsequent implementation through
legislation across APC states.
According
to him, “State Security Coordinating Committee and Trust Fund for the
States, is aimed at providing a robust, strategic, participatory and
community grounded security architecture as a solution to the myriad of
security challenges facing the Federal and State Governments.
“Security
is also central to the realisation of the ideals of social justice,
which is the cardinal anchor of the programme of the current
government.
“Without
adequate security, investors will be very reluctant to invest. Without
adequate security, the people may not realise their full potentials.”
He
added that to survive the current economic realities and sustain
healthy internal revenue base, states must design creative, aggressive
and robust ways and mechanisms of raising their revenue profile.
Okoroacha
said that the prototype bill was targeted at achieving the above,
adding that it would help the states restrategise in the identification
of their internal revenue base, mapping out of the base and collecting
data on business and areas that could shore up the internal revenue base
of the state.
“The
prototype bill on compulsory, free universal education addresses issues
of refusal to send pupils to school, charging fees and levies in public
schools, membership of Universal Basic Education Commission, financing
of the universal basic education, qualification to access funding,” he
added.
Giving
further clarification on the new moves, the Imo Governor explained that
the implementation of the laws in APC state would differentiate the
party from other parties.
He
said “this will differentiate us from PDP or any other party. It is
like US where Republicans and Democrats are known for their ideological
leanings, APC will be known for the ideology it stands for”.
He
said though the bills were being initiated now, some APC states like
Lagos were already implementing security trust funds. He explained that
each state would raise resources according to its revenue generating
capacity.
Governors
of Oyo and Katsina, Abiola Ajimobi and Bello Aminu Masari were
represented by Moses Alake Adeyemo (Deputy Gov, Oyo) Ahmad Usman
El-Marzuo, (Commissioner of Justice in Katsina State) while Mr. Ismaila
Kamba, Speaker of Kebbi State House of Assembly, represented other
Speakers of APC-led states at the press briefing.
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