September 27, 2021

The Northern Governors’ Forum and traditional rulers from the region are holding an emergency meeting in Kaduna State.

Top on the agenda at the 19 Northern States Governor’s Forum Meeting taking place at the Executive Council Chamber of the Kaduna State Government House, and chaired by the Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, are issues relating to the Value Added Tax (VAT), insecurity and economic problems confronting the region.

Those in attendance include the governors of Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Borno, Nasarawa, Jigawa and Gombe.

The governors of Niger, Kogi, Benue, Niger, Zamfara and Taraba states are represented by their deputies.

The deputy governor of Kogi State, Edward Onoja and others during the meeting.

Also present are the Sultan of Sokoto and the Chairman of Northern Traditional Rulers Council, Abubakar Saad.

The Shehu of Borno, the Emir of Zazzau, Nuhu Bamali, Estu Nupe, Emir of Kano and other royal fathers are also attending the meeting.

The governors and traditional rulers are expected to take a string of decisions during the meeting.

In his remark, the host governor, Nasir El-Rufai said the northern region is facing severe economic and security challenges that require the convening of the emergency meeting between the governors and traditional rulers.

According to El-Rufai, the forum will help chart a way forward to deal with these issues.

While highlighting the agenda for the meeting, the chairman of the forum, Simon Lalong, disclosed that the governors will take a common position on VAT collection and the surrounding controversies.