From EVELYN DADU, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari, 19 governors under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) and other relevant stakeholders have confirmed their readiness to attend the third Federal Government-Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) parley on Policy Synergy, holding in Jos on Nov. 25.
Director-General of PGF Mr. Salihu Lukman said this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said that the parley was to ensure synergy between State and Federal Governments to reposition local governments for excellent service delivery and to achieve the fundamental goals of local governance.
According to Lukman, the parley, with the theme: “Strengthening Public Service Delivery”, will focus on five key areas: internal security, education, transport, health and social investment.
“The aim is to facilitate the development of a commonly-shared service delivery framework for local governments, effective oversight from states and synergy with the Federal Government, adding that this will reposition the local governments for excellent public service delivery to achieve the fundamental goals of local governance,” the director-general said.
At the end of the parley, it is expected that some understanding would emerge on required actions needed to institute a commonly-shared service delivery framework for local governments
He revealed also that the Ministers of Internal Affairs, Transport, Education, Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, and State for Health will make presentations at the parley.
“Some agencies under the above ministries like Primary Health Care Development Agency, Universal Basic Education Commission, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will join the ministers to highlight priority issues,” he said.
Lukman further said that these would be considered as components of the commonly-shared service delivery framework for local governments in all APC controlled states.
“President Muhammadu Buhari will be Special Guest of Honor and the parley while participants expected include the 19 progressive governors, principal officers of the National Assembly and APC legislators. Also expected are Ministers of Interior, Transport, Education, Humanitarian Affairs and Minister of State for Health.
“Other participants also include the EFCC Chairman, Director, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBE), Executive Secretary, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA) and many other government functionaries from the 19 APC-controlled states,” he said.
According to him, this will influence programmatic relations between the Federal Government and APC-controlled states in the area of strengthening local governance.
“Some new initiatives that APC states can act upon towards instituting new efficient management models will also emerge for the PGF’s further consideration and approval at the meeting, he concluded.
