• Decries breach of constitutional order, stifling of local council autonomy
• State govts rely on external sources for 16% of health budgets
• 2025 budget raises concerns about Nigeria’s devt, CUPP warns
• Why I’ve withdrawn opposition to tax reform bills, by gov Sule

Elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark has urged the immediate suspension and reform of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), accusing the body of undermining democracy and constitutional governance.

In an open letter to Nigerians, Clark criticised the NGF for deviating from its original purpose of fostering inter-state collaboration. He described its evolution into a powerful bloc that prioritises governors’ interests over the welfare of the people as a betrayal of its founding mission.

“The NGF began as a platform for dialogue and cooperation among governors, but it has become a cabal capable of challenging constitutional order and stifling local government autonomy,” Clark wrote.

Drawing comparisons with the U.S. Governors’ Association, Clark noted the contrast between its governance-focused mission and the NGF’s tendencies towards political manipulation. He accused the Forum of wielding undue influence over state assemblies, describing them as mere extensions of the executive, where governors handpick Speakers and Assembly members to suppress dissent and erode legislative independence.

At the federal level, Clark criticised the NGF for facilitating the transition of former governors into Senate positions, turning the legislative chamber into a “retirement haven” that undermines its role as a check on executive power.

Clark decried the NGF’s transformation from a noble vision into a power-driven entity, lamenting its departure from its founding principles. While critics have labelled the NGF a “notorious cabal,” he expressed optimism for its reform, advocating for the Forum to become a collaborative body rooted in constitutional values and good governance.

“Reform is not an indictment but an opportunity to rebuild and recommit,” Clark stated, urging the NGF to prioritise the people over politics.

In a dramatic appeal, Clark proposed suspending the Forum to prevent further crises between state and federal governments. He also emphasised the need for a thorough overhaul to realign the NGF with its founding mission.

“The NGF stands at a crossroads. Its survival depends on its willingness to embrace reform and align with the principles of democracy,” Clark concluded.

Clark’s criticism came as the NGF’s health sector expenditure and institutional review report revealed that the 36 states rely on external funding for 16 per cent of their health budgets.

The report, obtained yesterday, noted, “State governments rely on external sources, including aid, grants, and loans, for 16 per cent of their health budgets. Grant and international aid programmes were the primary sources of non-discretionary capital funding for most states, with less than a quarter opting for loans to finance their capital projects in the sector.”

The report attributed the low loan uptake to challenges in securing them or a lack of interest in pursuing such financing options.

In 2022, total health expenditure by the 36 states amounted to N505 billion—seven per cent of their total spending—an increase from N484 billion in 2021.

In 2023, the states collectively budgeted N923.31 billion for the health sector, representing an 83 per cent increase from the total expenditure in 2022. However, the report noted that budget performance for the sector averages around 63 per cent yearly, suggesting that actual spending in 2023 may fall significantly short of the N923.31 billion target.

State governments’ average yearly health expenditure stands at N14 billion, with significant variations among states.

According to the report, only 15 states had a medium-term health sector strategy (MTSS) that included at least the 2024 budget year.

The report also highlighted the use of alternative planning documents and frameworks by health ministries in some states to guide resource allocation. It noted that these tools often prescribe activities, outputs, and outcomes similar to those outlined in the MTSS, although they are driven at the ministry level.

Regarding healthcare prioritisation, the report indicated that 61.83 per cent of the aggregate health budget of the 36 states from 2021 to 2023 was allocated to public health services and health administration. The remaining 38.17 per cent was distributed across hospital services (26.17 per cent), outpatient services (10.5 per cent), medical products, appliances, and equipment (1.22 per cent), and health research and development (0.28 per cent).

The report pointed out the states’ inability to present their health expenditure by specific services, such as primary care, secondary and tertiary healthcare programmes, or by disease categories, including infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, and maternal and child health.

This challenge was attributed to the National Chart of Accounts (NCOA), which was developed based on the global standard Classification of Functions of Government (COFOG) and does not provide such classifications of health spending.

The report emphasised that the full implementation of the NCOA programme segment would address this issue in the future.

ALSO, the Conference of United Political Parties (CUPP) noted that a critical analysis of the 2025 budget presented to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu raises significant concerns about Nigeria’s commitment to achieving meaningful development.

The National Secretary of the CUPP, Chief Peter Ameh, made this observation in Abuja yesterday.

According to him, the N49 trillion 2025 budget places greater emphasis on debt servicing and recurrent spending than on critical sectors such as education, health, and infrastructure.

Ameh said, “A staggering N16 trillion, roughly 32 per cent of the total budget, is allocated to debt servicing. This leaves N33 trillion for other expenditures, with N14.2 trillion dedicated to recurrent expenses and N13 trillion for capital projects.

“This allocation raises questions about the government’s priorities and ability to drive economic growth. The significant amount dedicated to debt servicing suggests that a substantial portion of Nigeria’s revenue will be spent on repaying debts rather than investing in crucial sectors like education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

“The allocation of funds is particularly concerning, given the Minister of Finance’s revelation that the last budget performed poorly, with capital budget implementation standing at only 25 per cent for 2024. This underperformance raises doubts about the government’s ability to effectively implement its budget and foster economic growth.”

He said, “Furthermore, the recurrent expenses, which account for approximately 29 per cent of the total budget, may not have a direct impact on the country’s development. These expenses are often related to the day-to-day operations of government agencies, salaries, and other administrative costs.

“While these expenses are necessary, they do not significantly contribute to the country’s economic growth or development. On the other hand, capital projects, which account for around 26 per cent of the total budget, have the potential to drive economic growth and development.”

Ameh added, “However, the allocation of N13 trillion may not be sufficient to address the country’s infrastructure deficits and other development challenges.”
Meanwhile, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has withdrawn his opposition to the tax reform bills following extensive discussions and assurances of a review.

Speaking as a guest on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Sule explained that his initial resistance stemmed from concerns about the impact of the proposed changes, particularly the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

Sule stated, “I was against the removal of VAT from FAAC because 60 per cent of that revenue would go to derivation. Other people are introducing consumption. That is why we called for a review of the position.”

The governor noted that his primary objective was to ensure the bills underwent further scrutiny rather than being passed in their original form.

“We have achieved our goal, and that is why I speak differently today. The goal we sought has been achieved. The bills are now open to further review, and I commend the House of Representatives, particularly the Speaker, for the way they have handled the issue,” Sule said.

He also praised the National Assembly for addressing the concerns raised by him and other stakeholders, noting their efforts to ensure the reforms are thoroughly evaluated before implementation.