Govs resolve to develop guidelines to reduce youth restiveness

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Worried by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the fallouts of the ENDSARS protests, governors of the 36 States of the federation have resolved to develop guidelines to reduce youth restiveness in the country.
The Governors pointed out that it is clear that these agitations are attributable to social and economic inequality in the country.
Rising from their teleconference meeting, the governors equally agreed to engage with traditional, religious and civil society organisations to drive a common agenda and generate the required support for security personnel who play a vital role in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all Nigerians.
These were part of the highlights of the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, and signed by its Chairman, Dr Kayode Fayemi.
The governors equally commended CACOVID for presenting the true situation of what transpired in the light of the unfortunate misperception that attended the distribution of palliatives at the State level, resolving that the NGF Chair should work with the CACOVID Chairperson to address the media in addition to members speaking up in their local settings.
They also resolved to educate the citizenry about the various palliatives provided by the States including cash
transfers, food items, medical supplies, and tax incentives given to individual taxpayers and businesses.
The meeting resolved that Governors are to direct their Commissioners of Finance to sign the SFTAS Subsidiary Grant Agreements with the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to give effect to the principles and objectives of the program in their States.
The communiqué of the NGF meeting reads in part, “We, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at our meeting held today (yesterday), deliberated on issues affecting the country, particularly on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the fallouts of the ENDSARS protests.
“Thereafter, members of the Forum Resolved to: “Engage with traditional, religious and civil society organisations to drive a common agenda and generate the required support for security personnel who play a vital role in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all Nigerians;
“Adapt at both the State and Regional levels Guidelines to be developed and issued by the NEC Sub-Committee on Engagement to reduce restiveness among young people as it is clear that these agitations are attributable to social and economic inequality in the country;
“Commend CACOVID for presenting the true situation of what transpired in the light of the unfortunate misperception that attended the distribution of palliatives at the State level resolving that the NGF Chair should work with the CACOVID Chairperson to address the media in addition to members speaking up in their local settings.
“Educate the citizenry about the various palliatives provided by the States including cash transfers, food items, medical supplies, and tax incentives given to individual taxpayers and businesses.
“ Finally, Governors are to direct their Commissioners of Finance to sign the SFTAS Subsidiary Grant Agreements with the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to give effect to the principles and objectives of the program in their States”, it said