The United States of America (USA) government and 36 state governors operating under the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) have reached agreements on how to collaborate in four areas.
In a communiqué issued yesterday in Abuja at the end of a meeting of the governors late Wednesday night, the Chairman of NGF and governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said that after a meeting with the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr., very robust decisions were arrived at as to how to continue to work in synergy.
According to the NGF Chairman, the ambassador outlined four key priorities that will guide U.S. engagement with Nigeria, and they are enhancing trade and improving the business environment to attract investments and drive economic growth, and promoting transparency and accountability in governance to strengthen institutions.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said the US government is also ready to support subnational governments to bolster development at the state level and establish sustainable, Nigeria-led health programs to ensure long-term impact and resilience.
The communiqué read, “We, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at our meeting held today, deliberated on issues affecting the country.
“The Forum engaged with the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, who shared his vision for a renewed and dynamic partnership between Nigeria and the United States. Highlighting a shift from a donor-recipient model to one of mutual collaboration, he underscored the importance of fostering economic opportunities for Nigerians.
“The ambassador outlined four key priorities that will guide U.S. engagement with Nigeria: Enhancing trade and improving the business environment to attract investments and drive economic growth. Promoting transparency and accountability in governance to strengthen institutions.
“Supporting subnational governments to bolster development at the state level. Establishing sustainable, Nigeria-led health programs to ensure long-term impact and resilience.
“Governors welcomed this renewed approach and emphasized the critical role of states in driving economic and social development. The Forum looks forward to deepening cooperation with the U.S. on these shared priorities.”
The communique further read thus, “The Forum received a briefing from the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs on the Nigeria For Women Project (NFWP) Scale-Up, expanding nationwide from its initial six-state implementation. The project aims to support women’s economic empowerment through Women Affinity Groups (WAGs), livelihood grants, and capacity-building initiatives, contributing to the goal of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.
“The Forum engaged with the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria (COSLON) to discuss key issues, including strengthening synergy between COSLON and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and ensuring subnational perspectives are well represented in the ongoing constitutional review process.
“COLSON also informed the Forum of their partnership with Development Finance Institutions (DFI’s) to digitize the State Houses of Assembly, aimed at enhancing legislative efficiency and transparency. Governors reaffirmed their commitment to collaborating with state legislatures to advance governance reforms and ensure effective policy implementation at the subnational level.”
