Governors under fire from civil society groups, for giving FG green-light to withdraw $1 billion to fight Boko Haram

Headlines from mainstream Nigerian newspapers today, Friday, December 15, 2017, are mostly focused on the $1 billion recently approved by NEC, for the federal government to fight Boko Haram terrorists in the North-east; and the allegation by INEC that Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state engaged in double registration during the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in his state.

The Guardian reports that the federal government was given the go-ahead to withdraw $1b from the Excess Crude Account to wage war against the Boko Haram terrorist sect.

The approval was given by the governors of the 36 states of the federation, at a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Speaking at the end of the session, Godwin Obaseki, the Edo state governor, stated: “The NEC resolved through the chairman of the governors’ forum to support the effort of the federal government in the area of security.

“We are pleased with the achievement that has been made till date in the fight against insurgency particularly in the North-east.

“We expect that the amount will include purchase of equipment, procuring intelligence, logistics and all that is required to ensure we finally put to an end to the scourge of insurgency.”

Civil society groups chide FG for withdrawing $1bn from Excess Crude Account to fight Boko Haram

Front page of The Guardian, today, Friday, December 15 (Photo credit: NAIJ.com)

The Nation is also focused on the nod given by the governors, for the government to withdraw $1bn to tackle the insurgency.

Following the announcement of the decision by Governor Obaseki, his Gombe state counterpart, Ibrahim Dankwambo, also spoke on other aspects of the meeting.

Dankwambo disclosed that some of the issues considered at the meeting included updates from the forensic audit of revenue that accrued into the federation account up to 2015.

Front page of The Nation, today, Friday, December 15 (Photo credit: NAIJ.com)

Punch is however focused on the backlash from several groups, concerning the approval given to the government from the state governors, to withdraw $1bn from the Excess Crude Account to fight the Boko Haram terrorists.

The paper reports that the move has been faulted by some civil society groups and analysts who said that past allocations for defence and anti-terrorism operations had not yet been judiciously accounted for.

Usman Abdul, President, Campaign for Democracy, told the paper: “This is what happens when you have leaders who are not thinkers. They cannot think outside the box. We are bound to be faced with such challenges.

“The military have come out to say that Boko Haram was technically defeated and Camp Zero was captured. I don’t see then any rationale behind dipping our hands into our excess crude account.

“These are the proceeds of our generality, and we have other presidential sources of revenue going into the North-East. What is the Presidential Committee on the North-East Initiative doing?

"The political leaders are rather looking for ways to steal money for the 2019 campaigns.”

Front page of Punch, today, Friday, December 15 (Photo credit: NAIJ.com)

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app

ThisDay is focused on the issue of the revelation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), that Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state engaged in double registration during the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in his state.

INEC confirmed the development, noting that it effectively violated the Electoral Act.

The commission however further disclosed that while the governor currently enjoys immunity from prosecution, it had taken action in respect of its own staff.

These actions include that summary dismissal of two staff for acts of gross misconduct, and the immediate and compulsory retirement of an electoral officer for acts of gross misconduct.